Sm Wants Roads Fixed Before Mall Opens

[Medic Mike]

SM Prime Holdings Inc. is asking the Cebu City Government to implement three projects at the South Road Properties (SRP) to support their mall and hotel projects there.

In a letter to Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, SM Prime Holdings Inc. regional operations manager for the Visayas Sherry Tuvilla said the City needs to complete the construction of a commercial road and interior roads adjacent to the SM Seaside City complex.

The City also needs to widen the Mambaling Access Road.

These projects, Tuvilla said, is in preparation for the opening of their mall in September 2015.

“With the opening of the mall, we are expecting significant impact on traffic and accessibility at the SRP. Relative to this, we are concerned about the present condition of the commercial road and the interior road adjacent to the SM Seaside City complex as well as the narrow span of the Mambaling road,” she said.

In her one-page letter, Tuvilla said the City and the public stand to benefit if the three projects are completed before the second quarter of 2015.

She said it will support the existing limited road network at the SRP, particularly along the coastal and Mambaling area.

“An expanded road network will improve accessibility to SRP as well as improve traffic management in the area, particularly decongesting the volume along the coastal and Mambaling roads, which is expected to significantly increase with the opening of the mall and other developments,” she added.

Tuvilla also said that a complete passable road network will make it possible for the City to operate and provide the public with a high quality public transport service.

During the City Council session last April 21, Tuvilla’s letter was endorsed and referred to the committee on laws for their comment and recommendations.

The council also scheduled a public hearing regarding the matter on June 25 and asked SM, the Department of Engineering and Public Works and the SRP Management Office, among others, to appear before the council.

Earlier, SM offered to shoulder the cost of the construction of a commercial road at the SRP on the condition that their expenses will be deducted from their tax dues.

Mayor Michael Rama, however, is not amenable to SM’s proposal because this could deprive some of the City’s services and projects of the needed funds.

SM, which is the second investor to buy a property at the SRP, owns a 30-hectare lot in the area.

They are building what will be the biggest shopping mall in the Visayas and Mindanao.

They also intend to build a convention center, hotel and residential condominiums, among other projects.

 

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2014/05/25/sm-wants-roads-fixed-mall-opens-344723

 

Dang road, nearly broke my neck one night because of the state of it.

[Dave Hounddriver]

Earlier, SM offered to shoulder the cost of the construction of a commercial road at the SRP on the condition that their expenses will be deducted from their tax dues.

 

That sounds extremely logical to me.  

[Old55]

The Mayors thinking is unfortunate.

[Tukaram (Tim)]

They are building a convention center and some hotels in one area here in Iloilo.  And the oddest thing I have ever seen - they built the roads first!  Nice big roads.  Hopefully they connect them to something one day... They don't actually connect to the city roads... it is more of a mutant spur growth.  Well... they tried...

[cebu rocks]

The only road in Cebu you can reach hi way speeds is going to be a parking lot when the mall opens

[the_whipster]

 

Earlier, SM offered to shoulder the cost of the construction of a commercial road at the SRP on the condition that their expenses will be deducted from their tax dues.

 

That sounds extremely logical to me.  

 

SM should be paying the bill without getting any tax break. They built a Marks and Spencer supermarket just around the corner from me in the UK recently, they would not have got planning permission to build in the first place Marks and Spencer had not agreed to foot the bill for all the new road adjustments that were needed like painting and the cost of building a new pedestrian crossing. These road works benefit Marks and Spencer, perhaps at the expense of other retailers. Why should the other retailers pay for improvements in their tax bill that benefit a competitor.

[Dave Hounddriver]

Why should the other retailers pay for improvements in their tax bill that benefit a competitor.

 

My logic would be that there would be no tax payable if there was no SM.  SM cannot exist without roads to get there.  Thus the roads are crucial to tax revenue being created and should thus be paid for with said tax revenue.

 

Disclaimer:  I am neither a politician nor accountant so I can only say it 'sounds' logical, not that it is logical.

 

perhaps at the expense of other retailers. Why should the other retailers pay for improvements in their tax bill that benefit a competitor.

 

I suspect that other retailers would benefit from a road that they did not have to build if they were situated along it, but if there are other retailers who are getting shafted by this deal, lets hear there opinions.  Are any of them squawking?

Edited May 26, 2014 by Dave Hounddriver

[Medic Mike]

The only road in Cebu you can reach hi way speeds is going to be a parking lot when the mall opens

That is funny ! :hystery:  :hystery:  :hystery:

[Thomas]

I suspect that other retailers would benefit from a road that they did not have to build if they were situated along it, but if there are other retailers who are getting shafted by this deal, lets hear there opinions.  Are any of them squawking?

I want to have a nice road to my business in the wilderness   :)

 

Joke aside -  Yes, if no road to the Mall, then it will not be any tax income for the public... so the MAIN infrastructure are suppoused to be paid by the PUBLIC, (or deducted as the Mall company suggested)

while special CONNECTIONS to that is it fair each COMPANY pay.

Edited May 26, 2014 by Dave Hounddriver

[Jack Peterson]

 In Spain, any new urbanization that includes businesses, have to provide a layout plan of entry exit and Utility area Infrastructure before any permissions and licensing is given, Over the last 20 years, we have seen many of these urbanization, pulled down and money lost. Mainly, through Bad or Corrupt Practices within Government Circles

 

There will always be a fore and against but if your company, will win business because of good infrastructure then it has to be paid for.  

 

If , Tesco, Carrefour or SM or Marks and Spencer, want to build in a Field. then they build the road to it. But if it is already an accessible  area, that will benefit the general Public at large, then I think the  Local Administration, should help, Bear the cost of Improvements to existing Roads.

 

 

:tiphat: