SM Prime eyes Carmona City as growth hub

CARMONA, Cavite — SM Prime Holdings Inc. is expanding its presence in Southern Luzon, identifying Carmona City as its next growth hub through the development of SM Carmona Central, a master-planned mixed-use township envisioned to become a new regional center.

Jessel M. Kabigting, Senior Vice President and Head of Estate Management and Development, said the investment reflects the company’s long-term confidence in Carmona’s strategic location within the corridor linking Metro Manila to the Calabarzon growth belt. She noted that the municipality’s accessibility to major transport routes connecting the capital to key industrial and residential zones in Cavite and Laguna makes it ideal for large-scale integrated development.

The project follows the company’s infrastructure-led township strategy, which focuses on building transport networks, utilities, and public spaces early in the development cycle to support sustained economic activity and long-term urban expansion.

A major milestone was reached on Friday as SM Prime Holdings Inc. and SM Development Corporation (SMDC) held the topping-off ceremony for the new Carmona City Hall. The 15,000-square-meter government complex will rise within a six-hectare property that will also house a Civic Plaza and a new Public Market, forming part of the broader 240-hectare mixed-use estate.

The new city hall is designed to consolidate all local government departments into upgraded facilities. Completion is targeted in the third quarter, with turnover expected before year-end. Company officials described the facility as the civic anchor of the township, emphasizing that embedding institutional infrastructure at the heart of the development strengthens the integration of governance, commerce, education, and mobility.

Beyond the government complex, the township will feature a commercial hub anchored by a future SM Mall near the South Luzon Expressway interchange, alongside residential communities, institutional facilities, healthcare services, and expansive green and open spaces. An academic component is also planned through a campus of National University.

Integrated mobility solutions, including potential bus rapid transit connectivity, are also being studied to support future locators and residents.

With civic, commercial, and community infrastructure converging within a single estate, SM Carmona Central is positioned to help drive Carmona’s transition into a modern urban center while supporting long-term sustainability and regional economic growth.