RLC expands Mindanao malls
Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC), the property development arm of the Gokongwei group, has started to expand its malls in Mindanao, starting with Butuan as market demand continues to grow with the robust economy of the CARAGA region.
Robinsons Place Butuan, one of the six Robinsons Malls in Mindanao, has undergone expansion to cater to the local residents’ need for more dining, shopping and entertainment options.
From the original gross floor area (GFA) of 42,000 square meters (sqm), the mall expansion will add another 17,000 sqm for a total GFA of 59,000 sqm while gross leasable area will rise from 26,000 sqm to 35,400 sqm.
Formally opened in 2013, Robinsons Place Butuan is the only full-service mall in the region and the first mixeduse with Go Hotels as one of its anchors together with Robinsons Department Store, Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Appliances, South Star Drug, and Robinsons Bank.
Slated for soft opening this month, the mall expansion will add more shops and restaurants, a land transportation terminal, increase in the supermarket area, and add two more digital cinemas.
The construction of the bus terminal located within the mall complex is complete and it will be operational this month. This is part of the plan of RLC to integrate a transportation terminal in all of its malls nationwide.
It has 12 bays for air-conditioned buses and amenities including an airconditioned lounge, clean toilets, food kiosks, and landscaped areas.
The expansion of Robinsons Movieworld in the Butuan mall will increase its number of seats from the existing 1,312 seats to more than 1,800 seats, including PWD seats in all cinemas. The increase in the number of cinemas will allow Robinsons Place Butuan show all the latest movies and cater to all audiences. Robinsons Place Butuan’s upscale design on the expansion mall has attracted more tenants offering health and beauty services to pamper shoppers. There is also a larger number of restaurants being opened by local entrepreneurs due to the improving lifestyle of Butuanons.
All these are due to the growing importance of Butuan in Mindanao as it is not just the center of trade but also hosts various government offices that people flock to such as the Police Regional Office Region 13, DepEd Caraga Region, DENR Environmental Management Bureau Region 13, PhilHealth Regional Office, Civil Service Commission, and OWWA. (JAL)