Robinsons to reopen Tacloban stores on Thursday

MANILA, Philippines—Robinsons Retail is set to reopen its supermarket, department store and other stores in typhoon-ravaged Tacloban on Thursday but on a limited scale and shortened hours due to power supply constraints.

The retailer will set up a temporary selling area of about 5,500 square meters at Robinsons Place-Tacloban from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. This is to “provide for the shopping needs of the Taclobanons for the upcoming Yule season,” Robinsons Retail told the Philippine Stock Exchange on Tuesday.

Six weeks after Robinsons Place–Tacloban was battered and severely damaged by Supertyphoon Yolanda (international name: “Haiyan”), Robinsons Retail will reopen Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Department Store, Handyman Do It Best, Robinsons Appliances, Toys R Us Toybox and Daiso Japan in Tacloban City.

“Our stores in Tacloban City are among the best performers since they opened four years ago, so this is the group’s way of giving back to the city’s loyal patronage for the Robinsons brand,” said Mariano Joaquin Jr., vice president for business development at Robinsons Retail Group.

“There is really a conscious effort from the group to re-open on the 19th of December to be in time for the Christmas holidays. This is also the group’s way of helping the national and local governments to bring the city’s trade and commerce back to normal,” Joaquin said.

The daily store hours will be limited due to the limited power supplied by the mall’s generator set. Due to this same power supply constraint, the supermarket will not be able to carry frozen and refrigerated items like fresh meat, fish and ice cream for the time being, the company said.

“Nevertheless, they commit to sell the usual variety of canned goods, snacks, beverages, milk and other food products including Noche Buena items like quezo de bola and fresh fruits. On top of these, people will also find a wide variety of basic wear, shoes, hardware products, home appliances, toys and gift items in the entire selling area,” the disclosure said.