by Joshua Fullido

Gov. Erico Aristotle “Aris” Aumentado bared that the lack of space in Tagbilaran City is the main reason that big mall operators are unable to set up shop here.

He made the disclosure at the sidelines of the Inaugural Abante Bohol Business Dialogue on June 30, 2022 at the Modala Resort, barangay Doljo, Panglao.

He said that there is not enough space in the city to construct a mall. It was learned from the governor that a mall operator needs at least 10 hectares of space for the purpose. 

Aumentado said that representatives from Robinsons mall, SM group, and supermarket operator Puregold attended the business dialogue last Thursday.

He said that mall operators outside Bohol are already aware that the retail giants here: the Alturas Group of Companies, Bohol Quality (BQ) and Shopper’s Mart already provide all the needs of Boholanos.

This is on top of the fact of the lack of space for the malls.

“Sagad sa ubang mga investors, ang ilang requirements is 10 hectares. Mismo sa Tagbilaran, mismo dili ka comply sa 10 hectares. Sayop na ang atong mga hunahuna, sayop nga atong pagtuo nga Alturas, BQ, ug ang Shopper’s Mart maoy hinungdan nga dili sila [big malls] makasulod,” the governor said.

Aumentado said he has been busy inviting big mall investors but at the end of the day, it would be the operators who will decide on whether or not to set up shop here in the province.

The issue of lack of malls has been a perennial clamor among Boholanos saying that Bohol lacks the big malls that are seen in cities like Cebu, Mandaue or even in Dumaguete.

There are some netizens who floated the idea that established Bohol mall operators are hindering the entry of huge malls in Bohol, which Aumentado has denied in his interview with reporters at Modala.

Meanwhile, Aumentado presided over a dialogue with business representatives from all over the country and from other parts of Southeast Asia, which was among his first official functions as the new governor of Bohol.

He met with the various business leaders in order to capture more investments and create more employment opportunities to Boholanos.