SM City San Pablo Adapts To The New Normal (Press Release)

San Pablo City , Philippines – On Monday, Laguna, including San Pablo City, is already be under general
community quarantine (GCQ). While under GCQ, several business establishments including malls are expected toalready resume operations after a two-month break.

Filipinos love their malls, most families looked forward to weekends to have excursions there or catch a movie within the nearest SM in their area. Our mall culture is ever dynamic and thriving, malls have evolved to one-stop-shops and not just retail shops and restaurants but also medical and government services. It gives all the comforts of centralized air conditioning to a shopper.

The world is hit hard by the pandemic, which has forced around 4 billion of us in the world to stay at home as to prevent the spread of disease. Malls will have to evolve because the original design makes money from foot traffic.

Malls will be adapting the new normal set by the IATF omnibus guidelines. These are:

1. Limited Foot Traffic – DTI has advised malls as well as their tenants to limit the number of people going inside their premises to ensure that physical distancing is strictly enforced. In doing so, they urged management to reduce the number of entry points in order to control the crowd, put markers to encourage mallgoers to observe social distancing, and mobilize personnel to monitor crowd flow in all areas of the property – including comfort rooms.

People using escalators should be standing at least one step apart while elevators will only be used by persons with disabilities (PWDs), pregnant women, and senior citizens.  Elevators should only carry half of its designed capacity, the DTI said.

2. Centralized Delivery of Goods – Commercial establishments are directed to implement a ‘centralized’ delivery system and indicate designated pick-up locations and delivery points around the premises.

3. No Free Wi-Fi – Malls will no longer be allowed to offer free internet connection, for now, in order to regulate foot traffic and ensure social distancing while inside their premises.

4. The air-conditioning temperature at 26 degrees Celsius  – The temperature inside malls will also be subject to regulations. DTI has set a standard of 26 degrees centigrade for its air-conditioning system.

5. Allowing Management to Impose Other Measures – Aside from those that were already enumerated in the DTI memo, mall managers are also encouraged to implement additional precautionary measures. 

Business establishments belonging to areas under GCQ are allowed to operate at a limited capacity. But the entry of minors and senior citizens is discouraged unless when on essential trips and transactions.

SM City San Pablo has implemented some initiatives such as floor stickers to ensure social distancing and Safety Protocol Officers around the mall to remind shoppers of the safe malling guidelines. The body temperatures will be taken they enter stores inside the mall and they are required to wear masks within the premises. The new normal is challenging but it is vital so business can continue to operate. SM Malls have gone the extra mile to ensure safety of its customers and rest assured they will continue to do so while we navigate in flattening the curve of this Covid 19 pandemic.