SM City Mindpro in Zamboanga cancels opening anew

SM CITY Mindpro again postponed its scheduled opening Sunday in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines.

The mall first cancelled its grand opening in October and moved it to November 27, but postponed this for a still unknown reason. It then announced a soft opening instead on November 29 only to cancel it anew.

SM City Mindpro did not say why it cancelled the soft opening.

Its Facebook account was flooded with comments from Netizens criticizing the mall for its confusing decisions on whether to open or not, or the reason behind it. But there were reports the mall did not push through with the grand opening after two of its employees contracted Covid-19.

It was unknown whether the duo had infected the others that forced the SM City Mindpro to cancel the opening of the mall.

Mall executives also cancelled the VIP invitations it sent on November 26, eve of the grand opening, for reasons unclear. Those invited had to cancel their busy schedules just to attend the VIP event only to be told later that it had been cancelled.

SM CITY Mindpro public information officer, Arnel Manahan, did not say why they cancelled both events. Pressed for answers whether the mall had received terror threats, Manahan told the Zamboanga Post newspaper: “No, it’s not about that. I cannot say anything more.”

Ironically, the SM CITY Mindpro said it will follow strict implementation of minimum health standards using advanced, touch-free technology.

It even boasted that the mall uses “Trace Together,” an end-to-end contact tracing solution to fight the spread of coronavirus disease. Its news release added that mall-goers are required to download the digital application and must scan the QR code at all entrances using their mobile device and declare information like name, address, mobile phone number, and health condition status.

SM CITY Mindpro also said it would implement the “No Face Mask, No Face Shield, No Entry,” policy in line with the government’s health protocols and check body temperature using thermal scanners, and there are disinfectant mats and alcohol in all the mall’s entrances.

But it was unclear how or where their employees got the Covid-19.

Manahan did not say when the date of the grand opening. But the mall’s Facebook page posted an announcement saying it would open on Sunday, adding to the confusion and frustration of residents who fear there may be late changes in the schedule again.

One shopper, who passed by the mall, was also frustrated to see the sign on the façade of the building “Mindpro Supermarket” and said: “Gee, I thought it would be SM Supermarket and now it’s the same old Mindpro supermarket. I am expecting a big SM supermarket just like in Davao City or those in Manila. I guess KCC (Mall de Zamboanga) is still the best and the biggest here.” (Zamboanga Post)

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