Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Manila Bulletin

Imagine shopping in a market where you can find the freshest produce and meat products in a place that is clean, well maintained, and secure. Housed in a modern multistory building, it is well lighted and well ventilated.
 
Finding what you need is easy because the stalls in the wet and dry areas are properly zoned. And then, there is the convenience of multi-level parking area with provisions for 252 vehicles, as well as accessible transportation for commuters.

This is the shopping ambience that is offered at SM Marketmall which opened Dec. 9 to bring an exciting new shopping concept to residents of Dasmarinas, Cavite. It will be located on the site of the former Kadiwa Public Market.

SM Marketmall is a mall of firsts. It is the first public-private partnership between a City Government and SM Prime Holdings, as well as the first one-stop mall in Cavite with a Hypermarket, 1,073 wet and dry market stalls, restaurants, services, and a bagsakan area. It is also the first vertical wet and dry market development, with the wet market and restaurants open 24 hours.

“I think this partnership is really beneficial to the city government, because the LGU did not have a single cash expense in this project,” said Dasmarinas City Congressman Pidi Barzaga. “SM constructed the public market, and will be paying an annual rental fee with the use of the land.
 
Since SM is the owner of the building, it will also be paying its real estate taxes.” “The project is expected to create an expansive year-round shopping district with dozens of local growers, seafood merchants, fresh meat vendors, bakers, and other business,” said SM Prime Holdings executive vice president Jeffrey Lim.

“It will showcase Cavite's local agricultural products, and give small vendors an opportunity to sell their food with very reasonable rental rates.” Many of the vendors from the former Kadiwa market are relocating to the mall. The more than 10,000 sqm SM Marketmall is envisioned to be a destination for foodies in search for fresh products and homegrown cuisine.
It will not only be clean, well maintained, and secure, but will also have provisions for PWD friendly facilities, and will showcase environmentally sustainable practices with a sewage treatment plant that recycles water, as well as proper garbage segregation and disposal.

“I have seen various SM malls and have observed how they are addressing problems related to sanitation, garbage, and orderliness,“ said Congressman Barzaga. “And we are happy they are our partners in Dasmarinas.“
 
Cavitenos are also looking forward to the opening of the Marketmall. “This is very timely because our city needs an orderly public market,” said Ryan Bahali, a production staffer from the Office of the Mayor.
 
“A clean public market is a sign of progress.” The SM Marketmall’s design and construction team includes Jose Siao Ling and Associates, architects and designers; and R. M. Cabanela Construction and Management Corp., general contractor.