As the Land Transportation Office (LTO) faces continuing demands for greater efficiency, transparency, and accountability, the professional record of Atty. Noreen S. San Luis has drawn attention amid discussions about the agency's leadership.

A lawyer, registered nurse, and Career Executive Service Officer (CESO) Rank V, Atty. San Luis brings more than 12 years of experience in land transportation governance, with a record spanning frontline service reforms, digital transformation, modernized traffic enforcement, and road safety advocacy.

Atty. San Luis previously served as LTO Regional Director in Bicol and CALABARZON. She also held a national-level position as Director of the LTO's Traffic Adjudication Service, giving her experience in both regional operations and central-office policymaking.

Her background includes public administration, regulatory enforcement, technology-driven reforms, and private-sector transportation management—areas directly relevant to the LTO's responsibilities.

A Track Record of Improving Public Services

During her leadership of LTO Bicol, Atty. San Luis introduced measures to make government services more accessible, efficient, and responsive to motorists.

According to the Career Executive Service Board (CESB), she helped establish five LTO district offices that received Excellent ratings in the Civil Service Commission's Anti-Red Tape Report Card Survey in 2015.

She also helped establish additional LTO offices in Irosin, Sorsogon; Tigaon, Camarines Sur; and Pamplona, Camarines Sur, bringing services closer to communities and easing congestion in existing offices.

Under her leadership, the LTO E-Patrol mobile office program, dormant for nearly a decade, was revived to provide government services to motorists in remote communities.

She also pursued improvements in LTO facilities, including using a ₱39-million allocation to upgrade waiting areas and improve accommodations for clients, particularly persons with physical limitations.

These initiatives reflected an approach to public service that emphasized accessibility, operational efficiency, and addressing motorists' everyday concerns.

Helping Modernize Traffic Enforcement and Digital Systems

Beyond regional administration, Atty. San Luis has supported major initiatives to modernize traffic enforcement and strengthen coordination between the LTO and local government units.

She chaired the technical working group that developed Metro Manila's Single Ticketing System, which sought to standardize common traffic violations, harmonize penalties, and simplify fine settlement across local jurisdictions.

Pursued in coordination with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Metro Manila local governments, the initiative addressed longstanding differences in traffic enforcement procedures and helped advance a unified traffic management framework.

Atty. San Luis also worked on the LTO-LGU Interconnectivity Project, which sought to connect local government traffic enforcement records with the LTO's Land Transportation Management System (LTMS).

The integration supports a centralized database of traffic violations, more consistent enforcement, and improved monitoring of drivers' records.

Her involvement extended beyond Metro Manila. In May 2024, she presented the interconnectivity initiative before the Baguio City Council, explaining how electronic recording of traffic violations could support more coordinated enforcement without relying on the camera-based No Contact Apprehension Program.

Her experience in these initiatives demonstrates familiarity with the operational, legal, and technological requirements of nationwide traffic enforcement modernization.

Reducing Bureaucracy Through Practical Reforms

Atty. San Luis' record also includes efforts to simplify administrative procedures within the LTO.

In December 2024, while serving as Director of the Traffic Adjudication Service, she recommended removing the requirement for motorists to submit an affidavit of loss and police blotter when settling traffic violations involving lost or damaged Temporary Operator's Permits.

The LTO subsequently adopted her recommendation through LTO Memorandum Circular No. VDM-2024-3100.

The reform recognized that traffic violation records were already being encoded in the LTMS, eliminating the need for motorists to produce additional documentation that duplicated information available in the agency's database.

It was a practical example of how digitalization could reduce paperwork, lower transaction costs, and make the experience more convenient for the public.

Atty. San Luis also served on the LTO's Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Center (PMVIC) Accreditation Committee, participating in regulatory processes related to vehicle inspection facilities.

These assignments gave her experience in regulatory oversight, technical compliance, and the administrative processes supporting the LTO's modernization initiatives.

A Pioneer in Road Safety Education

Beyond administrative reforms, Atty. San Luis is recognized for developing Students Today, Road Users Tomorrow (STRUT), a school-based road safety education initiative introduced in 2014.

Developed in partnership with the Department of Education, STRUT sought to instill road safety awareness among young Filipinos before they became licensed drivers.

The initiative reached a major milestone in November 2017, when road safety education was formally integrated into the K-12 curriculum in Bicol.

The Department of Education reported developing 12 learning modules covering road safety concepts across subjects such as Araling Panlipunan, Edukasyon sa Pagpapahalaga, English, and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.

For Atty. San Luis, the advocacy also has a personal foundation. Her father, a former mayor of Pili, Camarines Sur, died in a road accident—an experience that helped inspire her commitment to educating young road users and preventing traffic-related deaths.

Her work received international attention when the STRUT initiative was featured during the Philippines' observance of the Fifth United Nations Global Road Safety Week in 2019, documented by the World Health Organization.

Atty. San Luis was also among those involved in developing and advocating for the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 10586, or the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013.

Leadership Experience Beyond the LTO

Atty. San Luis' professional background extends to the private transportation sector.

She previously served as Vice President for Road Traffic Safety and Quality, Environment, Safety, and Health at NLEX Corporation under Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation.

According to her professional biography, her responsibilities included the Anti-Overloading Vehicle Program and road safety strategies involving operational compliance, data-driven enforcement, and safety management.

Her private-sector experience complemented her government service by exposing her to the operational requirements of expressway management and transportation safety systems.

Her contributions to public service have also earned institutional recognition, including a Civil Service Commission regional award in 2017 and recognition as one of the Ten Outstanding Women in Law Enforcement and National Security in 2019.

She graduated with honors from the Development Academy of the Philippines with a Diploma in Development Management. Her professional biography also lists international road safety training, including participation in the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety and the Global Road Safety Leadership Course.

In August 2026, Atty. San Luis assumed the position of City Administrator of Naga City under Mayor Leni Robredo, further expanding her responsibilities in local governance, institutional coordination, and public service delivery.

Experience Relevant to the LTO's Continuing Challenges

The LTO's responsibilities go beyond driver's licensing and vehicle registration. The agency also faces demands to improve transaction efficiency, strengthen regulatory compliance, modernize enforcement, and address public concerns about service quality.

Atty. San Luis' career reflects involvement in these areas, from improving district office operations and bringing services to underserved communities to helping develop digital enforcement systems and reducing unnecessary documentary requirements.

Her experience also spans different levels of administration, including regional management, national policy implementation, regulatory oversight, private-sector transportation safety, and local government operations.

Although no official appointment to the LTO's top post has been announced, her professional background and documented contributions provide a substantive basis for examining her qualifications in discussions about the agency's future leadership.

For an institution facing continued pressure to deliver faster, more transparent, and more reliable services, her record shows how administrative experience, technical expertise, and practical reforms can strengthen transportation governance.

Bacolod City has long built value from its inheritance: fertile lands, an established economy, distinctive architecture, celebrated cuisine, and a culture that turned resilience into an identity recognized across the country. 

Today, the City of Smiles is translating these foundations into a broader proposition, where enterprise expands beyond traditional sectors, visitor flows open fresh markets, infrastructure improves mobility, and residential developments respond to growing urbanization.

Bacolod's growing urban landscape reflects the city’s continued transformation into a center for commerce, services, and residential development.

Its history remains integral to this progression. Bacolod City developed alongside the sugar industry, which shaped much of Negros Occidental for more than a century. Ancestral houses, agricultural estates, heritage landmarks, and longstanding enterprises reflect how commerce shaped the provincial capital’s physical and social character. 

Meanwhile, cultural expressions such as the MassKara Festival demonstrate the capacity to turn challenges into creativity, tourism receipts, and entrepreneurial opportunities.

That legacy remains economically relevant. Bacolod cuisine, including its signature chicken inasal and sugared delicacies, supports restaurants, retailers, and hospitality ventures, while cultural events stimulate accommodation, transportation, entertainment, and ancillary services. 

Rather than standing apart from modernization, these inherited strengths now shape the city’s commercial identity and appeal.  

Beyond established segments

Bacolod's economic structure now reflects how far it has diversified from its origins. 

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the city recorded 7.70 percent growth in 2024, bringing gross domestic product (GDP) to approximately PHP 157.37 billion at constant 2018 prices. 

Its performance exceeded the national GDP growth rate of 5.70 percent that same year and placed it among the 10 fastest-growing highly urbanized cities in the Philippines.  

Services accounted for 76.60 percent of local output, underscoring the growing role of professional services, finance, education, hospitality, and consumer-oriented sectors. 

Human health and social work grew by 14.70 percent, followed by construction at 12.40 percent and by wholesale and retail trade and motor vehicle repair at 11.24 percent.

These figures indicate multiple engines of expansion. Building activity points to ongoing capital formation; retail reflects a widening consumer base; medical and social services respond to urban needs; and other tertiary segments generate jobs linked to workplaces, institutions, and business districts.

The addressable market is also substantial: the 2024 Census of Population recorded Bacolod City with 624,787 residents, up from 600,783 in 2020 and 561,875 in 2015. 

A larger population deepens the labor pool, sustains purchasing power, and increases demand for housing, education, mobility, recreation, and everyday necessities.

Bacolod’s rich cultural heritage and thriving local enterprises continue to shape its identity as the City of Smiles and a destination for tourism and business.

Creating commercial currents

Tourism adds another dimension to this transition: the Bacolod City Tourism Office recorded 873,573 domestic and international visitors in 2025, up from 833,345 the previous year. 

Receipts exceeded PHP 6.55 billion, and attendance at meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) reached 279,200, a 77 percent increase from 2024.

These arrivals drive spending across several industries. Hotels gain room nights, restaurants receive diners, transport operators move passengers, stores capture discretionary purchases, and major events create additional business for local producers and suppliers.

At the same time, the destination continues to enhance the cultural assets that define its profile. 

Public investments in the Bacolod City Public Plaza and the Bacolod City Government Center Heritage Plaza demonstrate how preservation, placemaking, and public-space enhancement can strengthen development.

Key transport links, including Bacolod-Silay Airport, strengthen regional connectivity and expand access to markets, employment, and tourism opportunities.

Converting movement into momentum

Bacolod-Silay Airport secures direct air service for Negros Occidental, linking residents, tourists, and commerce to major domestic markets. Continuous upgrades to passenger bridges, elevators, and airfield infrastructure protect the gateway’s operational capacity. 

Complementing this, the Bacolod North Road expands regional reach toward Talisay, Silay, and Victorias, while southern routes extend transport corridors toward Murcia. 

Integrated with regional maritime networks, these combined infrastructure assets allow Bacolod to thrive beyond its borders—giving businesses broad market access, expanding workforce mobility toward key employment centers, and providing households with greater residential flexibility across Western Visayas.

Producing new property priorities

Bacolod City is therefore advancing on several interconnected fronts:  cultural assets sustain identity, various sectors generate livelihoods, visitor spending stimulates commerce, and transport investment enlarges geographic reach. These conditions carry direct implications for real estate.

As the population grows, housing demand rises, and new industries create earning opportunities. Retail establishments bring necessities closer to consumers as improved routes extend the practical radius of daily travel. Together, these shifts influence where households and investors perceive long-term value.

For homebuyers, location is increasingly nuanced. Proximity to schools, workplaces, lifestyle destinations, hospitals, and key thoroughfares can enhance everyday utility, while secure surroundings and suburban amenities support livability. 

For investors, market depth, accessibility, and urban activity sustain the case for strategically positioned residential developments.

Within this evolving landscape, Camella has continued to build.

Growing alongside Bacolod since 2008, Camella continues to provide thoughtfully planned communities that connect families to the opportunities of a developing city.

Growing with the City of Smiles

Camella has been part of Bacolod since 2008, placing the housing brand alongside nearly two decades of transformation. 

Its communities, which helped earn Camella the Best Housing Developer in Visayas and Mindanao at the Dot Property and Lamudi Philippines Real Estate Awards 2026, offer homeownership options across the city as housing demand evolves with population, mobility, and economic activity.

These offer landscaped surroundings, lifestyle amenities, and convenient access to schools, road networks, retail parks, and services. 

Their locations support households seeking proximity to established districts while remaining connected to emerging areas across Bacolod and Negros Occidental.

For buyers and investors, this creates a home base for participating in a diversifying economy while building long-term property value. Residential development becomes a partner in progress, providing a setting where opportunity, stability, and ownership can advance together.

As Bacolod carries its heritage into enterprise, mobility, and investment, Camella continues to grow with the City of Smiles: turning access into advantage, ownership into enduring value, and local progress into possibilities that can extend across generations.

Growing alongside Bacolod since 2008, Camella continues to provide thoughtfully planned communities that connect families to the opportunities of a developing city.

The Philippines’ largest homebuilder

For nearly five decades, Camella has delivered over 600,000 iconic homes in more than 1,250 communities across 49 provinces and 147 key cities and municipalities. 

Crafted for the upper- to middle-income segment, it places family and community life at the center—creating a legacy of value for generations of Filipinos.

To learn more about Camella and its communities across the islands, visit www.camella.com.ph, follow @CamellaOfficial, or call 0977 077 6874.

Unveiled during the media launch, the official BÚTLAK video sweeps across Negros—its landscapes, landmarks, fashion, and artistry—bringing the island’s creative spirit to life.

One afternoon at SM Aura was enough to show why generations of shoppers have made the Negros Trade Fair a much-awaited celebration. 

The Association of Negros Producers (ANP), together with SM Supermalls, officially launched BÚTLAK: The 40th Negros Trade Fair with a preview that brought together the flavors, fashion, craftsmanship, stories, and creative spirit of Negros. 

From September 22 to 27, 2026, the landmark anniversary edition will bring 178 brands from the Negros Island Region to the SMX Convention Center Aura.

A Journey to Negros—Without Booking a Flight!

One of the media launch’s most evocative moments was the unveiling of the official BÚTLAK video. 

Taking viewers through the places, flavors, craftsmanship, and stories of Negros, the film offered the kind of visual journey that could make anyone want to book a flight and experience the island for themselves. 

But there is no need to pack a suitcase. This September, Negros is coming to Manila for six days of food, fashion, art, homeware, and handcrafted discoveries at SMX Aura.

ANP President Christina Gaston opened the program, emphasizing the fair’s role in helping creativity become enterprise. 

“For ANP, MSME development is about giving people the opportunity to discover what they can create, what they can become, and where their creativity can take them."

"Over 40 years, we have seen small businesses grow into enterprises and local products reach markets once thought beyond their reach,” Gaston said. 

ANP leaders, partners, and Negrense culinary personalities share a celebratory moment at the BÚTLAK media launch.

This was followed by welcome remarks from SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, who underscored how platforms such as the Negros Trade Fair can connect Filipino culture with greater economic opportunity. “Our role is to help open doors. 

"For us, the Negros Trade Fair is a wonderful example of how culture and enterprise can grow together,” Tan said. 

Through SM for MSMEs, SM Supermalls continues its collaboration with ANP by connecting homegrown businesses to a high-traffic marketplace, greater visibility, new customers, partners, and growth opportunities.

A taste of Negros: Guests sample regional flavors and culinary favorites during the media launch—a delicious preview of what awaits at the fair.

That journey continued at the table as guests sampled a taste of what awaits at the fair, with Negrense culinary personalities JJ Yulo, Joel Torre, and Chef JP Anglo sharing the flavors and stories of the province. 

The tasting offered just a first bite of the experience—from comforting regional favorites and heirloom recipes to fresh interpretations by a new generation of food entrepreneurs. 

For Joel Torre—actor, restaurateur, and owner of JT’s Manukan—the pride behind the food is just as important as its flavor. “I’m a proud Negrense. I’m very proud of Negros products,” Torre said. 

Chef JP Anglo linked that same pride to the fair’s ability to keep evolving. “Life is always changing; it’s a constant evolution,” Anglo said. “And that’s why the Negros Trade Fair is thriving through the years—it’s because of that chase to perfection and love for craftsmanship.”

Food, fashion, crafts—and 178 brands to discover

That same spirit is carried by a new generation of brands. Stephanie and Cristina Claparols of Lakat Sustainables described the fair as a place where ideas are exchanged, and makers support one another. 

“To us, this really feels like a family gathering, and there’s a lot of new brands to discover, especially coming from the new generation. I think that’s the most exciting part of it."

Food remains one of the fair’s biggest draws. Visitors can look forward to well-loved names such as Bob’s Café, 21 Restaurant, Chicken House, El Ideal, and Virgie’s Homemade Products, alongside newer food concepts, regional specialties, sweet treats, pantry staples, and pasalubong finds. 

As Basti Escalante of the Antonio’s Group put it, “Negrense food goes beyond inasal—there’s a lot more to discover.” 

Beyond the table, the fair offers plenty to wear and bring home. Arête creates handcrafted island-style accessories using indigenous Philippine materials, while Ellege Handcrafted Fashion brings Negros Occidental’s intricate hand-smocking tradition into contemporary clothing. 

Other fashion and lifestyle labels will showcase resort wear, jewelry, woven pieces, and modern designs rooted in local culture. 

Home and craft enthusiasts can explore pieces by Hacienda Crafts, Tumandok Crafts Industries, Artisana Island Crafts, NVC Foundation, and other makers transforming abaca, rattan, bamboo, capiz, ceramics, wild pandan, and repurposed materials into distinctive décor, houseware, art, and furniture. 

Many of these pieces also sustain artisan livelihoods and help keep community craft traditions alive.

The fair will feature 178 brands across food, fashion, furniture, homeware, art, and local crafts—bringing you in for the names you already love and leaving with a new favorite—or several.

A 40-year legacy designed for the next 40

ANP Vice President Mary Anne Colmenares captured the meaning behind the anniversary theme: “Our roots are found in the traditions, skills, and stories handed down to us. Our blooms are the new ideas, new enterprises, and new generations emerging from those roots. 

After 40 years, Negros continues to bloom—and its brightest chapters are still ahead", Colmenares added.

The milestone edition is therefore both a homecoming and a new beginning. 

“We’re celebrating 40 remarkable years—but we’re equally excited about the next 40,” said SM Supermalls Executive Vice President for Marketing Joaquin San Agustin.   

More than shopping, this is a celebration of talent, heritage, and heart. Bring your family and friends, support local, and take home a piece of Negros! See you at BÚTLAK! 

OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN REACH. Across SM malls nationwide, jobseekers are finding new ways to connect with jobs, skills, and brighter possibilities.

For thousands of Filipinos, finding the right job begins with having the right opportunity within reach. 

SM Job Fair marked a major milestone while widening access to employment and skills development—from celebrating its 500th nationwide job fair and bringing SM Group employers directly to communities, to working with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to connect technical-vocational training with careers. 

Together, these initiatives reflect SM Supermalls’ continuing commitment to make the journey from preparing for work to finding meaningful employment more accessible to Filipinos.

500 JOB FAIRS—AND COUNTING! 

On August 12, SM City Daet hosted the 500th SM Job Fair, marking an important milestone in SM Supermalls’ nationwide jobs advocacy.  

As of its 500th Job Fair, the program has connected around 330,000 jobseekers with thousands of employers nationwide, resulting in more than 42,000 applicants hired on the spot (HOTS). 

Behind those numbers are individual journeys—from fresh graduates seeking their first break and career shifters starting over to breadwinners and experienced professionals taking their next step.

500 JOB FAIRS, THOUSANDS OF NEW BEGINNINGS. At SM City Daet, a nationwide milestone became personal as another jobseeker walked away hired on the spot.

Through partnerships with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), local Public Employment Service Offices (PESO), employers, and industry organizations, SM continues to use its nationwide mall network to bring jobs closer to communities.

ONE STEP CLOSER TO A CAREER. Jobseekers meet SM Group recruiters face-to-face, turning applications and interviews into possibilities for a fresh start.

FROM OPPORTUNITY TO EMPLOYMENT AT THE SM GROUP JOB FAIR

The momentum continued on August 18 at SM City Fairview, where the SM Group Job Fair connected jobseekers with career opportunities across the SM Group. 

Applicants met recruiters face-to-face, explored vacancies, submitted applications, and underwent interviews in a single accessible venue—simplifying the hiring journey while helping participating companies connect with potential talent in the community.

For fresh graduate May Stephanie, the search for her first job ended with good news when she was hired by Savemore. 

“Masaya po kasi mahirap po maghanap ng work lalo po pag fresh grad ka po.” Her experience reflects the human impact behind every successful match: a chance to begin a career, earn a livelihood, and build toward a more secure future. 

SKILLS IN ACTION. Hands-on training turns learning into practical skills that can open doors to the workplace.

FROM SKILLS TO OPPORTUNITIES WITH TESDA

As industries evolve, Filipinos need both access to jobs and the skills to succeed in them. Last August, SM Supermalls and TESDA brought the World Café of Opportunities (WCO) to SM malls nationwide in celebration of 2026 National Tech-Voc Day, connecting technical-vocational graduates and jobseekers with employers and industry partners.

At the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on August 24, more than 1,000 jobseekers met 54 participating employers offering more than 4,000 job opportunities.

Job matching was complemented by skills demonstrations in HVAC, autonomous robotics, driving, animation, and coffee barista—showing how practical training can translate into workplace readiness.

For Jeff Justine Geraga, a BS IT student at the University of Makati who took Computer Systems Servicing through TESDA, gaining additional skills has helped strengthen his confidence in a competitive job market. 

“Definitely, tumaas ang value ko dahil may added skills ako from TESDA—more opportunities for me. Requirement na po ang upskilling dahil competitive po ngayon.”

A key highlight was the launch of the TESDA Skills Compass, a career guidance and job-matching platform that helps Filipinos explore career pathways and connect their competencies with in-demand jobs. For some participants, the connection between skills and employment became immediate. 

After traveling from Mindoro in search of work, Cristyl Faith Robles was hired on the spot as a barista at French Baker.  

“Masaya po kasi last week pa po kami nag-a-apply ng work kasi galing pa po kami sa Mindoro... Para po ito sa magulang ko at sa kapatid ko para matulungan ko po siya sa college.”

Employers also recognize the value of skills-based training. CJ Bajamunde, HR Assistant at SMC Repairs and Maintenance, shared that TESDA training and certifications are among the qualifications the company looks for when recruiting skilled workers. 

 “Nakatulong po talaga ang TESDA hindi lang sa mga naghahanap ng trabaho, kundi sa aming mga employer din.” 

Through the World Café of Opportunities, SM and TESDA are helping turn skills into employability—connecting training, talent, and industry needs in ways that can lead to meaningful careers.

LEARNING THAT MOVES PEOPLE FORWARD. Free upskilling brings future-ready knowledge closer to learners in SM communities.

MORE JOBS AND SKILLS THIS SEPTEMBER

The momentum continues this September as the SM Job Fair brings another nationwide lineup of employment activities to SM malls, complemented by government career opportunities and upskilling sessions with partners.

SEPTEMBER JOB FAIR SCHEDULE

● September 1 – SM City Sto. Tomas

● September 3 – SM City Manila

● September 4 – SM City Sta. Mesa

● September 7–8 – SM City Butuan

● September 8–9 – SM City Iloilo

● September 8–9 – SM City Davao

● September 9 – SM City Baguio

● September 9–10 – SM City Cebu

● September 9–10 – SM CDO Downtown Premier

● September 10 – SM City Trece Martires

● September 10 – SM Center Muntinlupa

● September 10 – SM City Tuguegarao

● September 10 – SM City North EDSA

● September 10 – SM City Zamboanga

● September 10 – SM Center Muntinlupa

● September 12 – SM City La Union

● September 12 – SM City San Pablo

● September 14 – SM Center Antipolo

● September 14 – SM CDO Downtown Premier

● September 16–17 – SM Seaside City Cebu

● September 22–23 – SM Seaside City Cebu

● September 23 – SM City Calamba

● September 24 – SM City Trece Martires

● September 24 – SM Center Pulilan

● September 24 – SM City Bacoor

*Schedules, venues, and participating partners may be subject to change.

UPSKILLING SESSIONS

Jobseekers and learners can also take advantage of upskilling activities scheduled throughout the month:

● September 10 – SM City Trece Martires

● September 12 – SM Center Sangandaan

● September 12 – SM City North EDSA 

● September 24 – SM City Trece Martires

MORE THAN JOBS

SM’s employment advocacy continues beyond recruitment. Through partnerships with government agencies, educational institutions, and industry organizations, SM Supermalls has provided free upskilling opportunities to more than 1,600 learners, covering artificial intelligence, digital literacy, cybersecurity, and other emerging workplace competencies. 

In select malls, SM Government Service Express (GSE) also brings essential government services closer to communities, with selected locations serving as Upskilling Hubs.

From reaching the 500th SM Job Fair to helping a fresh graduate land a first job, and from gaining a technical skill to finding where it can lead, August demonstrated what can happen when employment, learning, services, and strong partnerships come together.

THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY STARTS HERE. Beyond the 500th milestone, SM Job Fair continues to connect more Filipinos with employers and possibilities closer to home.

And as SM Job Fair moves beyond its 500th milestone, the work continues—helping more Filipinos find jobs, build relevant skills, and move toward better futures closer to home. 

To learn more about upcoming SM Job Fairs and free upskilling opportunities, visit the SM Supermalls website or follow SM Supermalls’ official social media pages.

Mall operator sustains portfolio transformation reinforced with customer-obsessed strategy following strong H1 business performance 

MANILA, Philippines, September 1, 2026 — SM Supermalls delivered record revenues in the first half of the year, expanding 8% to P41.8 billion from P38.6 billion. Its exceptional performance was driven by higher leasable space and tenant sign-ups, along with steady foot traffic.

Total gross leasable area grew 3 percent to 5.1 million square meters from 5.0 million square meters, while the number of tenants rose 4 percent to 23,174 from 22,192. Average daily foot traffic was steady at 3.7 million. 

“Our growth reflects the enduring trust of our tenants and shoppers. Despite macroeconomic headwinds, they continue to find value in the variety of our offerings and the strong sense of community in our malls,” said SM Supermalls President Steven Tan. 

“This gives us confidence to keep investing in spaces and experiences that respond to their changing needs.”

SM’s Transformation Journey

Noting market demand for diverse and unique experiences beyond retail, SM enhanced its spaces with refreshed sports, leisure, and entertainment offerings. 

The mall operator sustained foot traffic through the addition of 41 Pickleball courts in its first-half inventory, bringing up the number of its courts to 102 courts across 32 properties nationwide.

On June 12, 2026, SM Supermalls also co-hosted the Galaxy Manila Marathon, the first-ever full marathon to take over EDSA, drawing over 25,000 runners across multiple categories.

On top of these, SM also emphasized its corporate purpose of driving value to its surrounding communities through sustainable facilities developed in its malls. 

From 100 Megawatt peak (MWp) solar power generated through its mall rooftop solar PV system, SM has increased its capacity to 122 MWp with further plans for expansion until the end of the year. 

SM also recently reached 100% coverage for free EV Charging Stations across all 90 of its malls at 203 EV charging stations.

Because of its sustained innovation and pioneering customer-centric vision, SM Supermalls was heralded as the Philippines’ Strongest Brand for the second year in a row by leading global brand valuation consultancy firm Brand Finance. 

Fueled by its strong customer, community, and advocacy initiatives, SM Supermalls scored a 95.3 out of 100 on the Brand Strength Index, surpassing its 2025 performance to retain its AAA+ rating in the Philippines 50 2026 report.

The next chapter of My SM

With these milestones, SM aims to sustain its customer-defined transformation through My SM—its five-year platform for evolving SM malls around the changing needs, lifestyles and aspirations of Filipino communities.

“Our growth plan for the rest of 2026 and beyond is to continue evolving for our customers. SM will keep building business momentum through the introduction of exciting new brands, cinema and entertainment acts, as well as leisure offerings that will sustain market interest."

"With the upcoming opening of our 91^st mall, SM Nuvali, we are expanding our business footprint in the emerging growth corridor of South Luzon and Calabarzon with an innovative upscale mall concept never experienced in the Philippine market before,” said Tan.