Proposed mall in Laoag progressing—CVF

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff reporter

Laoag City—City mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas stated that the plan to build a mall in the city is progressing.

In doing so, she quashed rumors that the plan has been scuttled by the prospective investor.

Ms. Fariñas disclosed that she has learned that the investors are serious with their plan and that they are intent on realizing the project.

However, their plans are being delayed since they want a wider and bigger space to give them room for future expansion.

SM Prime Holdings originally planned to acquire 10 hectares of land but due to the high cost of the prices given to them, they decided to scale it down to nine hectares.

Ms. Fariñas added that one other factor in the delay was due to a lot which has more than two owners and some of them are residing outside the country, and their caretakers cannot decide on their own.

City assessor Engr. Ruben Domingo, for his part, divulged that he has also learned that SM Prime Holdings has already started paying lot owners some time ago. He added that some lot owners have already been paid in full.

Mr. Domingo said land owners of about eight hectares of the land wanted by the investor have already approved of the sale or have signified their intentions to sell their lots. Although some are still being negotiated, some owners have already closed deals.

Mr. Domingo also clarified that the City Assessor’s Office has had no participation either in the negotiations for the lot or their payment. He stressed that the extent of their participation is limited to the issuance of maps and tax declarations which they certified.

He also mentioned that all lots are located at Brgy. 51-B Nangalisan.

The Laoag Sangguniang Panlungsod has also moved to facilitate the building of the mall by approving a resolution converting agriculture lands to commercial lands at Brgy. 51-B.

Laoag councilor Joseph H. Tamayo sponsored the measure in the hopes that the mall project would soon begin.