Super Metro breaks ground for hypermarket in Baybay
BAYBAY CITY — Metro Gaisano executives and Baybay City Officials led the groundbreaking of the one-hectare Super Metro Hypermarket that will soon rise in this city’s reclamation area.
Metro Gaisano officials present were Metro Retail Stores Group President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Arthur Emmanuel; Vice President- Head of Network Expansion Arnold Leoncio, and CFO Joel Orense.
Mayor Carmen L. Cari and Vice Mayor Michael L. Cari, on the other hand, led the group of city officials who attended. The others were councilors Atty. Ernesto Butawan, Vicente Veloso, Dominador Murillo, Leoncio Asilom Jr. Also present were Brgy. Zone 15 chairman Robert Cayone and his council.
Councilor Butawan said that the Super Metro Hypermarket, which is targeted to be completed early next year, will have eateries, a grocery and department store.
On a Build- OperateTransfer scheme, Metro Gaisano will construct the 2- storey building on a one-hectare area, which the company will lease for 25 years at P12 per square meter. The rate is said to increase every three years.
Included in the BOT contract is the building’s specification that it must be constructed t o l ast long. “Dapat pulido aron magamit pa after 25 years,” he said.
Baybay City has a 9- hectare reclamation project, 4 hectares of which have already been completed. Of the four, he said, one- hectare is leased to Metro Gaisano. The rest will be developed by the LGU to expand its city proper.
Butawan said that the relocation area for Baybay’s famed barbecue stalls is ready for turnover to the lessees, while another area is being developed for relocation of the vulcanizing shops so that they will not crowd streets anymore.
“We are now just computing how much the rentals will be so we can pass an ordinance and lease the spaces,” the lawyer-councilor said. —
Lalaine Marcos