Robinsons opening malls in Roxas and Santiago cities this month

Robinsons mall. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Property developer Robinsons Land Corp. is set to open two new shopping malls this February – one in Roxas City in the Visayas and another in Santiago City in Isabela, Northern Luzon – bringing to 37 its nationwide shopping mall portfolio.

In a press statement on Monday, RLC senior vice president and general manager for commercial centers division Arlene Magtibay said Robinsons Place Roxas would open on February 13 and Robinsons Santiago, on February 19.

“RLC continues to strengthen its presence in the Visayas-Mindanao regions where it now operates 11 shopping malls (excluding Roxas) while the property firm now owns seven shopping malls in Northern Luzon (excluding Santiago),” Magtibay said.

The two-level Roxas mall will have a gross floor area (GFA) of 37,400 square meters and a gross leasable area (GLA) of over 23,000 sqms. while the three-level Santiago mall is designed to have a GFA of about 40,000 sqms and a GLA of about 26,000 sqms.

“Even before they have opened their doors to the public, we are happy to announce that both malls are already 99 percent leased out due to strong interest from both local and nationwide retailers and restaurant chains,” said Magtibay.

The two malls are strategically located near major routes and road infrastructures and are thus easily accessible to both private vehicles and public transportation.

Magtibay said the host communities were looking forward to the opening of the two malls. “They are being welcomed by local businessmen who have enthusiastically diversified to the retail and restaurant businesses by setting up shops in the malls,’’ she said.

The Robinsons Roxas mall will be part of the first mixed-use development in Panay – the 300-hectare Pueblo de Panay which has a master plan that includes two residential subdivisions, a convention center, a resort and hotels and a pre-school.

Residents from the nearby provinces of Iloilo and Antique are also seen to benefit from the opening Robinsons Place Roxas as the mall is accessible via land trips.

On the other hand, the Santiago mall is seen contributing to the “booming” business climate in Santiago and in nearby cities and towns in Northern Luzon, she said.

The two new malls will have as anchor tenants Robinsons Department Store, Robinsons Supermarket, Daiso Japan, and Robinsons Appliances. Handyman will also be present in Robinsons Place Santiago.

For entertainment, both shopping centers will have cinemas by Robinsons Movieworld, which will include a 3D format, as well as food courts to give shoppers a variety of dining options.

RLC, led by its president Frederick Go, was cited as the “Overall Best Managed Company” in the Philippines by financial magazine Euromoney for 2014.