It is also evaluating a potential hotel development in Laoag to complement its retail expansion and tap into the city’s growing tourism and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) market, the company said in a statement.
Strategically located along Airport Road, just minutes from the Laoag city center and Laoag International Airport, SM City Laoag is set to become a new commercial and lifestyle hub in the Ilocos Region. The three-level mall offers over 51,000 square meters of gross leasable area, with 90 percent of its space already leased ahead of launch.
The project is expected to generate about 4,000 jobs in the region, spanning retail, operations, and support services.
“The opening of SM City Laoag reinforces our commitment to bring modern, accessible, and community-oriented retail experiences to underserved but fast-growing areas,” said SM Prime president Jeffrey Lim.
Ilocos Norte recorded an 8.6-percent economic growth rate in 2024, the fastest among provinces in Region I, driven by tourism, transport, and services—sectors SM aims to help accelerate further.
Anchor tenants at SM City Laoag include SM Store, SM Supermarket, SM Cinema, Ace Hardware, Pet Express, Miniso, and BDO, alongside lifestyle and fashion brands like Adidas, Levi’s, and Watsons. Dining options feature both global and local names such as Vikings, TGI Fridays, Marugame Udon, and Café Amian.
The mall will also debut “Dap-ayan,” an open-air central park named after the Ilocano word for gathering place, envisioned as a venue for community events and leisure. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
