Gaisano-backed Metro Retail opens Biliran mall as Visayas expansion accelerates

Company marks its 83rd store nationwide with Metro Naval, strengthening its footprint in Eastern Visayas and expanding access to modern retail in provincial markets.

Metro Retail Sales Group Inc. has opened a new mall in Biliran Province, adding Metro Naval to its growing footprint and marking its 83rd store nationwide, 65th location, and 12th in Eastern Visayas. The Gaisano-backed retailer is pushing deeper into provincial Visayas markets, where access to full-scale retail options has long been limited.

The new complex brings Metro Market, Metro Department Store, and Metro Home Lifestyle into one space, creating a one-stop retail hub for residents in Naval and nearby towns who previously had to travel outside the province for a wider selection of goods. Company officials said the store is expected to generate local employment, widen supplier participation, and pull more everyday commerce into the local economy.

Metro Retail said the expansion is part of a broader strategy to strengthen its presence in emerging regional centers while embedding operations within local communities rather than concentrating only in urban hubs. 

President Joel Orense said the goal is to grow alongside provincial markets while making essential retail more accessible and supporting livelihood opportunities tied to store operations and supply chains.

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