A major road expansion project is underway in barangay Cogon, Tagbilaran City, to accommodate the construction of the first SM Mall in Bohol.
The project, which is expected to start before February 2024, will widen and concrete Hangos Street, where the mall will be located.
The SM Group, one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines, has acquired a large lot near Hangos Street and has begun erecting fence posts around it.
SM Prime Holdings, the property arm of the group, has also applied for a fencing permit from the Tagbilaran Office of the Building Official, which will be evaluated by various city agencies.
The road expansion project aims to create a four-lane road from the new Capitol Building to JA Clarin Street, near Camp Bernido.
Provincial Engineer Camilo Gasatan said that the contractor is waiting for a Notice to Proceed from the provincial government’s Bids and Awards Committee.
The project is designed to prevent traffic congestion along Hangos Street during and after the mall’s construction.
The mall, which will feature cinemas, recreational facilities, and other standard mall amenities, is expected to boost the economy and tourism of Tagbilaran City and the whole province of Bohol.
According to Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Cajes-Yap, the SM Group expressed its intention to build a mall in the city during a meeting with her and other local leaders almost two years ago.
She said that the mall will provide shopping convenience for Boholanos and attract foreign tourists who are staying in Panglao and other parts of Bohol, without the need to travel to Cebu or Manila.
SM Tagbilaran will be the first SM Mall in the province and will elevate the status of Tagbilaran City as one of the premier shopping destinations in the country.