First shopping mall for Naga

CEBU, Philippines – If negotiations push through, Naga will have its own shopping mall soon, from where it expects to rake in at least P5 million annually. The project would also mean more jobs for residents, Mayor Val Chiong said in an interview.

Based on the plan so far, Gaisano Metro will convert Naga's sports complex, which stands across the city hall, into a shopping mall.

The entire area, parking lot included, is about 2,500-square-meter.

Chiong said Gaisano, also under the agreement which is yet to be approved by the city council, will construct for free a new sports complex for Naga just beside the city hall.

Reportedly, the new facility will be patterned after modern sports complexes abroad, according to a city hall insider.

Meanwhile, tenants renting spaces at the sports complex will be moved to the new facility once it is completed, said Chiong.

But during the construction, they will be housed temporarily in another place just within the city's reclamation area.

The lease agreement, Chiong said, is good for 25 years, but "renewable," that is, if the private firm complies with what will be specified in the contract.

The past days, a team from Gaisano Metro has been seen in Naga to check the place.

But as of yesterday, "everything is still under negotiation," that even the contract has yet to be made and the council has to approve it, the mayor said.

"If this pushes through, this is going to be beneficial to the city, more jobs for the Nagahanons, and syempre, income to Naga," he said. (FREEMAN)