The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) maintains that the newly opened premium mall,SM Aura, at Bonifacio Global City was “illegally built.”
In an Interkasyon.com report, the BCDA said that excavation for the property was done without permission. Top officials claim that SM “occupied the property forcibly” when BCDA denied its request to construct a road in front of the mall.
BCDA President Arnel Paciano D. Casanova added that SM did not build a proper retaining wall and now endangers the lives of a community of families living in the vicinity of the new mall. More importantly, BCDA stressed that they donated the land to Taguig City for the construction of a civic center, and not a shopping mall. However, BCDA alleges that SM Prime still proceeded to build the mall and go on with the road excavation.
SM Investments Corp on the other hand, commented that the dispute is between Taguig City and BCDA.
