Mall business to remain brisk despite APEC road closures

MANILA, Philippines – The country’s biggest mall operators expect no slowdown in their Metro Manila business this week despite several road closures and other activities in line with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting.

SM, Robinsons and Ayala malls would remain open at regular mall hours this week, these firm’s officials told The STAR, to cater to the public and even APEC delegates who would want to unwind and do their shopping.

“Any drop in foot fall may be nominal.  Since classes and work will be suspended and  air travel will be limited, people may actually have time to do their early shopping and catch on the latest movies,” Robinsons Land Corp. commercial division general manager Arlene Magtibay said.

Magtibay said Robinsons malls situated along EDSA such as Robinsons Galleria and Forum as well as Robinsons Manila maybe affected with the closure of EDSA’s inner lanes and that of Roxas Boulevard.

“Notwithstanding the road closures, these malls will remain open throughout APEC and we will continue to serve the surrounding communities,” she said.

SM’s Mall of Asia in Pasay City, the shopping center which will likely take the hardest hit due to the road closures, is also optimistic as it promises to stay open the whole week.

“We don’t know yet what will happen, except that the roads will be limited. We’ll see in the first day of the closure,” SM Prime executive vice president Jeffrey Lim said.

The Ayala group, meanwhile, expect foot traffic in their malls to remain robust this week, with its major malls in Makati like Glorietta and Greenbelt situated near official APEC designated hotels.

“Our malls will be open to welcome APEC delegates. We expect strong foot traffic to continue during the APEC week,” Ayala Land assistant vice president Myrna Fernandez said.