Metro Retail expands in Visayas with new retail projects

It announced new developments in Leyte-Samar and Negros Occidental.

Philippines' Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. (MRSGI) is expanding its presence in the Visayas with new retail projects in Samar and Negros Occidental, developed in partnership with local governments.

“As the economies of regions like Negros Occidental and Eastern Samar continue to grow—bolstered by impressive GDP expansions and strong performance in key sectors like retail, construction, and tourism—MRSGI is capitalising on these opportunities," said Manuel Alberto, president and chief operating officer of MRSGI.

In Catbalogan, Samar, MRSGI is building a two-story retail complex with a supermarket and department store, with plans to expand it into a larger mall. The project, part of a joint venture with the provincial government, also includes a convention center, government hub, transport terminal, and a planned hotel.

In Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, MRSGI has partnered with the local government through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to establish a 6,000-square-meter retail complex. Set on the site of a former public market, the facility will serve the town’s nearly 100,000 residents.

The three-level complex will feature a home improvement section on the ground floor, a supermarket and lifestyle retail on the second, and dedicated spaces for local businesses on the third. Designed to enhance accessibility, the development will be integrated with the nearby Ceres Bus Terminal, providing a convenient shopping experience for commuters and residents.

MRSGI continues to expand in high-growth areas, with Eastern Samar and Negros Occidental reporting GDP growth of 8.1% and 6.9% in 2023.

The company currently operates 70 stores across Luzon and the Visayas and was recently named to the Fortune Southeast Asia 500 list.