TACLOBAN CITY- Mayor Cristina Romualdez confirmed that a new shopping mall is expected to open its branch in Tacloban, possibly the construction to start within the year.
Romualdez, however, declined to provide details saying she is not in the position to do so.
“But they have already secured an area somewhere along the Coca-Cola area,” the city mayor said.
The Coca- Cola area being referred by Romualdez is the bottling plant and offices of the world’s leading soft drink maker located along Fatima district here.
She added that aside from constructing a shopping mall, the company will also construct another hyper mart within the city.
Earlier, an official of the Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) which is behind the Robinsons shopping malls has divulged that the construction of its second shopping mall in Tacloban is expected to be finished within the year.
The second Robinsons Place in the city is located at the city bus terminal at Abucay district.
Its first one is along the Marasbaras district.
Mayor Romualdez said that she is happy that big ticket investments are coming in to Tacloban three years after its economy was devastated brought by supertyphoon “Yolanda.”
“I think, we are now recovering, at least in the aspect of our economy,” she said.
Romualdez also assured the local businesmen that the coming in of big players will not affect them.
“I don’t think they will be affected with the coming in of new investors. Tacloban does not only serve among its people but the entire region,” the city mayor stressed.
She added that inviting more investors is among her priorities for 2017 saying this could provide more employment for the people.
In fact, she said, a 13.4 hectare eco-tourism zone, located in the northern part of Tacloban, is to be formally open within the year where investors could put in their outlets.
But Romualdez insisted that transferring the families still living in areas declared as danger zones to their new homes at the relocation sites at the northern part of the city will also be prioritized. (JOEY A. GABIETA)