MAYOR Isabelle Climaco-Salazar debunked speculations that security threats had prompted SM City Mindpro to defer its much-awaited opening originally scheduled for Friday, November 27, 2020, to another date.

“The deferment of SM opening yesterday (November 27) had nothing to do with security but in compliance with health safety protocols after one of its top personnel had tested positive for Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), prompting the management to have the new mall disinfected,” Salazar said/

Salazar said such a measure proves SM’s safe malling advocacy amid the present Covid-19 pandemic that requires everybody to practice minimum health protocols—social-distancing, regular handwashing, wearing face masks and face shields.

Salazar added SM’s presence in Zamboanga City sends a message of hope in light of the pandemic.

“It speaks of the investors’ confidence in the city’s peace and order, in the local government and Zamboanga City as a whole,” she said.

She added that SM has been known for taking risks to give hope and livelihood to the people in the most trying times. She recalled that at the time of the Asian financial crisis, SM Megamall was opened.

Now, at the height of the pandemic, SM City Mindpro opens in Zamboanga, she added.

The SM City Mindpro is the first SM shopping mall in the region and the seventh in Mindanao. In the entire country, it is the 76th Supermall. (SunStar Zamboanga)