The mall chain will have its regular operating hours revised.
In a statement on Thursday, March 26, major Philippine mall chain SM Supermalls announced the adjustment of operating hours of its malls around the country beginning Monday, March 30.
According to the company, the move is in response to the State of National Emergency declared by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. last Tuesday, which will be effective for up to one year as a result of the volatility in energy supply caused by hostilities in the Middle East.
In the revised schedule, all 90 branches of SM will be open from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm from Monday to Friday, while it will remain 10:00 am to 10:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
“This strategic shift is a direct response to the urgent need for nationwide power conservation,” explained the company. “By adjusting daily opening times, SM Supermalls aims to significantly reduce demand on the national grid.“
It also stated that this measure ensures that the company is able to effectively manage its resources during this time.
Steven Tan, President of SM Supermalls, noted: “SM is proactively adapting to the current situation by adjusting our operating hours. We remain committed to delivering elevated retail experiences for all Filipinos, supported by our increased use of renewable energy to power our malls.”
SM Supermalls has 90 locations in the Philippines and operates the three largest malls in the country, which are the SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, and SM North EDSA, that are all situated inside Metro Manila.