Well-kept mall spaces in the new normal

It has a well laid out plan to safely welcome back its loyal clientele.

Even if it had already rolled out new protocols to help protect guests, tenants and employees of the Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Land is stepping up its efforts anew, further reinforcing its measures against the new coronavirus (COVID-19) to ensure a safe malling experience. And this really comes as no surprise considering that Rockwell Land has long been known to always go beyond the ordinary in all its undertakings.

Tracey Castillo

Tracey Castillo, AVP for marketing of Rockwell Land, said all their safety initiatives allowed them to adjust to the current situation—given that this unprecedented global health and economic crisis undoubtedly also calls for extraordinary measures.

“The past (two and half) months of the quarantine inevitably made us adjust quickly to the necessary safety measures and government policies. Given that our situation is very sudden, fluid and uncertain, we have been working to elevate and improve programs and strategies—putting (the safety of) our customers, tenants, and staff as a priority,” Castillo explained.

“While we are at an indefinite situation, there are some market trends and behavior that we can start to foresee in terms of operations and business viability. We are focusing our planning efforts on these so we can restructure to adapt to all changes and innovations in the long term,” she said.

In addition to the safety precautions such as mandatory temperature checks, sanitation of hands, use of face masks, and stringent social distancing that everyone’s already familiar with, Castillo said Rockwell Land has further heightened its health and safety protocols to protect all customers, tenants, and employees.

Frequently-touched surfaces are disinfected every 15 minutes. To ensure safety in the elevators, only four people at a time are allowed inside. Escalator handrails are sterilized non-stop through UV technology, while all cubicles, counter tops, and sinks will be disinfected after every use.

Aside from floor markers to manage physical distancing and queuing, Rockwell Land has also designated mall security near its restrooms, elevators, and escalators to maintain order. The staff are likewise subjected to daily health checks and are required to wear PPEs.

The number of customers in a store will be limited while fitting rooms are disinfected after each customer, and un-purchased items are sanitized. Food is also handled with much care, as workstations are sanitized and all employees are mandated to wear safety gear all the time.

“We also recently launched Rockwell In & Out, a service that enables customers to conveniently drive by to pick up their orders at Power Plant Mall. After placing orders with the stores, they can do a quick in and out pick-up while remaining inside their vehicles at a centralized area in the P1 Level Car Park. A representative from the store will safely hand over their orders,” Castillo further said.

Temperature checks are done prior to entry.

Escalator handrails are sterilized through UV technology.

Rockwell reminds guests of safety protocols inside its mall.

Signages guide guests at the Power Plant Mall.

These safety protocols are being implemented not only at the Power Plant Mall but also in all other commercial areas or retail establishments of Rockwell Land. For example, to regulate crowd control, elevators will only allow two passengers at a time at The Grove Retail Row in Pasig City, Santolan Town Plaza in San Juan City, and Arton Strip in Quezon City. Floor markers are also in place for queuing in elevators and bathrooms.

“Rockwell In & Out remains exclusive to Power Plant Mall, but we are implementing the same stringent set of safety protocols in all Rockwell retail properties. While we originally are not expecting new launches this year, we are looking forward to additional store openings and retail options in Arton Strip in Katipunan,” Castillo disclosed.

Meanwhile, as a way of helping out its tenants, Rockwell Land has also extended rent concessions which include waiving the rent for those who haven’t been operating since the enhanced community quarantine was imposed mid-March.

“To provide further support, we are waiving one month worth of rent upon resumption of their businesses by June 1, and we’ll only resume revenue sharing on their second month of operations. However, since we understand each tenant has different needs, we are working closely with them to see which option works best for each,” Castillo concluded.