P2Billion Robinsons Gen. Santos Mall begins construction
20 June 2008
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196 Comments
After years and years of speculation, the wait is finally over!
Robinsons has just begun the construction of what should be one of the biggest investment projects in the Tuna Capital of the Philippines, General Santos City in years!
This project, a first-class shopping center reportedly costing P2 billion pesos and to be known as Robinsons General Santos, is under the Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC), a JG Summit Company headed by Chairman Emeritus, John Gokongwei, Jr.
Situated in an 8.5 hectare property acquired by the Gokongwei’s in the late 80s along the corner of Jose Catolico Avenue, National Highway and the Bula-Lagao Road, this proposed edifice is about 500 meters away from the KCC Mall and the Gaisano Mall.
Clearing of the land has began almost a week ago after a series of meetings between RLC people and the local authorities including GenSan Mayor Pedro Acharon, Jr.  It will be remembered that years ago, before a series of bombings rocked the city, they were supposedly set on starting this project back then and have even applied for a building permit. Eventually due to the barbaric terroristic incidents, they held off….. until now.
The Robinsons Gen. Santos site at corner J. Catolico Avenue (going right) and Bula-Lagao road (going left)
And so with Robinsons’ impending move to go ahead with their project, the city government will be awarding them incentives in form of tax breaks. “Mall operations” is one of the top “investment priority areas” under the city’s New Investment Code.
Robinsons Gen. Santos will be a two-storey mall which will house the company’s flagship stores- Robinsons Department Store, Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Appliances, Handyman Do It Center plus four Robinsons’ cinemas.
Aside from that is a Bingo center, an Amusement center and lots and lots of rentable spaces for retail shops and boutiques, restaurants and dining establishments.
More than 500 workers will be hired for the construction of the biggest of all of the Gensan malls and about 700 personnel will be employed once it becomes operational. I learned that the Robinson’s management has pledged that 80% of their new hires will all be locals which redounds well for the benefit of the city’s new graduates and unemployed but skilled workforce.
Bula-Lagao Road
Meanwhile, according to a very reliable source, the SM group for its part is now on its final talks with the owners of a prime 8-hectare property along Santiago Boulevard which they have optioned to lease for their own mall.
And with NCCC of Davao recently opening its warehouse outlet at Kimball Plaza’s old bodega at Leon Llido Street, signs may be pointing to their eventual entry into the Mall business in GenSan considering that they also have a four-hectare property along the National Highway.
Wow! All these only mean one thing - more and more investors are now seeing Gen. Santos city in a new light and are beginning to realize the truth in the Tuna Capital of the Philippines being named twice as the Most Competitive Mid-Sized City in the country.
Robinsons Gen. Santos is scheduled to open during the 2nd quarter of 2009. Check back here for regular updates.
Updates:Â More photos of the mall site…
The Robinsons Lot now with its new fence.
A grader doing ground clearing inside the Robinsons lot.
wow that’s nice… many places to see now.. more malls to visit…
go GENSAN go!!!
WOW! great news! can’t wait to see it! I love shopping! hehehe!
Kwartang pangshoping na lang ang kulang.
Kailangan kaya may magpatayo ng pasyalan like Enchanted Kingdom dito? Disneyland Gensan kaya?
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me kasama bang hotel ang itatayong robinsons mall sa gensan?
manansala for mayor !!
@Shine, go, go, go gensan!!! it’s time to relocate back here and leave CDO…hehehehe!
@Kim, I love shopping too… minus the paying part. Hehehe! Thanks for commenting from far-away Kuala Lumpur my dear.
Gilbert, that’s not a far-fetched idea. Who would think that big players Robinsons and SM would be coming in years ago? As the song goes, “when you wish upon a star… your dreams will come true…” Hehehe…
Hello JM! They did not disclose plans for a hotel altho that might be after the mall has opened. Right now, they’re only developing 50% of the total land area. In Cagayan, they built a hotel beside their mall so it’s possible…. very possible.
Hello big Joemac! Finally, you commented. Hahaha! You made my day!!! :0
Wow….How about a call center in gensan?
Gensan’s economy is really doing great. After all, Gensan is the center of commerce in Region 12. Hopefully the next projects for Gensan is as big as the much awaited Robinsons mall.
^^ Sorry for the wrong grammar… ‘next projects for Gensan are as big as the much awaited Robinsons mall.
swerte ng Lagao at nandun lahat ng malls. I wonder if it will affect greatly KCC and Gaisano…:D
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its a big leap i guess.. i say, go mindanao:) ako rin gusto mag shopping pero madalas, window shopping lang hehe.
@Christine, hello! At the Yaman Gensan Celebration or Gensan Business Month set to open June 23, some call center companies will be flying in to see the city’s potentials for the opening of local call centers. Am feeling good about this. Thanks for your query.
@epm, hi! am very sure, the rest will now follow Robinsons lead. And yes, Manny Villar’s Camelia Homes has just opened their offices here. Will post about it soon. Thanks.
@Ayel, in a way they will be affected but they have a year to improve their services even more. Nothing like competition to stir things up… w/c will be good for Gensan of course. So how are you?
@Dimaks, welcome to the club of window-shoppers…hehehe! When was the last time you came home to Cotabato by the way?
what price progress? with robinsons and sm coming in, kcc and gaisano will be hard-pressed to keeping up with the joneses. these developments however is a boon to consumers. personally, am happy about this development….lalong mapapansin ang gensan nito…
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@orman, i agree. there is a price to pay for everything. in the end though, it will be good for the region’s economy.
it’s about time!!! robinson’s purchsed that piece of land back in the early 90’s… good luck to robinson’s… I’m happy for the development…
Nice post about your City in here! very informative…
thanks for your tips about Asthma (^_^) it was very well said…
take care and ingat sa dust
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ngano 2 storey lang puro nalang 2 storey atoang mga malls dri, dapat 4 storey para cool!!
Hello gensanite! Yeah, we waited so long but now that they’re here, we should be happy!
Hi Ice9web!
Thanks for the visit.
Boidame, 2 storeys para mas matipid siguro. Pero ang Gaisano and KCC puro 3 storeys man, di ba?
go gensan!!!!!aim high!!!!
i miss gensan so much balik guro ako next month hopefully, dito kaz ako sa manil…robinsons place general santos..WELCOME to the world class city of GENERAL SANTOS!!!!!
maayo na aron maibanan unemployed dre gensan…
ang SM general santos murag year 2009 or 2010 pa … naa nay lupa ang SM tupad sa gaisano. ipang demolish tong mga DOVER LANES,DUNKIN DONUTS,SUD-AN katong sad na mineral water na building ambot lang kung salihon nila tong st.elizabeth hospital ug ang katupad niya sa nat. highway…. na i-demolish
hello RJ! we should be proud of our hometown which is really growing fast! see you around and thank you for commenting here. Balik-balik ha?
Hi xXtotsmachortXs (whew!)! Dagku jud nig tabang sa mga way trabaho, sama sa akung gisuwat sa post. Salamat sa imong pag-komintar. Ayo-ayo!
Hello Rodner! The negotiations with the owners of the lot are still ongoing. St. Elizabeth Hospital up to the Water Station are not included. The land belongs to the Veneracions. The land under nego are owned by the Salazar’s. Thank you for dropping by!
yah i am proud to be generals..hehehe..yah babalik talaga ako…hehehe
your welcome!!social ata ang gensan kaz my website na ganito…thanks for making this site…godblessss:)
At last Robinsons’ already here in Gensan We are waiting this for so long and I am also proud for the coming of SM here in Gensan before the end of this year Congratulations Generals this is our beginning towards our success Good Luck to all
Im proud of being Generals
Yipeey, ang dami nang malls sa Gensan! It’s beginning to be an exciting city na.. We don’t need to go to Davao City to shop. =D
I just hope the City goverment of General Santos will require the two coming big malls to construct as well a pedestrian over pass or an elevated pedestrian bridges that will connect all the 4 malls in Lagao area (since all the malls are so closely situated with each other) para bang green belt sa makati city….this is to provide shoppers and commuters an easy flow of traffic in their mall’s vicinity.
yehey! ang dami na malls. Wawarts na lang kulang pang shopping
Yess!!! taga Gensan jud ko! hehehe.
Hello Jasper! That’s a very good suggestion. Am sure, both the owners of these malls and the local government are doing what they can to alleviate the impending surge of traffic there.
Hi mlvpd! Hehehe! Korek ka jan! Wawarts na lang gyud kulang natin.
Hi… Bakit ala pang SM d2? Ang SM daw dun sa may Salazar ay yung SM HyperMart? Sabi daw nila ung SM City General Santos ay dun ilalagay sa may Apopong? The property of the Riveras. Infront of the General Santos City Compressed Industrial Gas Plant… Sana dun na lang ang SM para may mall din na malapit sa mga taga Apopong and mga taga Sinawal.At xempre, di na mahihirapan ang mga taga Polomolok and Marbel na mamasyal, dba? Watchathink? Tama, dba? Puro na lang kasi sa Lagao… Unfair… =) So, kelan ba talaga ang SM? Puro rumours lang kasi ang alam ko, eh… hahah! Sir Orman Manansala (tama ba?) Kelan po ba uupisahan ang SM d2 sa GenSan? Waiting for your reply… Email me na lang kung kelan… hahhahaha! (p.s. Pwede din mag email ang may alam kung kelan, ok?) paolo962000@yahoo.com, the_great142003@yahoo.co.uk… Thanks people! Magandang GENSAN! MAbuhay Mayor Acharon! Mabuhay ang mga GeneralS!
tama kanga tga lagao ako.. dpat sa apopong nalng kasi mas malaki ang land area sa appong at para mging city proper din ang apopong …. ang city proper lang d2 sa gensan ay ang LAGAO at DADIANGAS… lamang … add me punishercrime@yahoo.com
ang SM unta kay dako dapat mga 20 hectares para mas cool parehas sa mall of ASia
tinuod GId diay nila ang GENSAN kay “the City of Dust” mao ang mga ASthmatic kay dli maka agwanta dri…
omg!! i cnt wait!! sna may starbucks na d2 sa gensan..wahaha…go go gensan!! go go gensan!! weee!!
..saan ba itatayo ung sm mall d2 sa gensan?? sa brgy. apopong ba??
Hi Paolo, Rodner & Melsay! No word yet with regard to the location ng SM GenSan. Hopefully, within the next month, may confirmed news na tayo. Thanks for your comments. Keep them coming guys!!
this could be the start of something big for our beloved city….
Mabuhay Generals!
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hi soulrocks! that is for sure! Mabuhay rin ang mga gensan bloggers!!!! Thanks for checking out on my blog. See you around! Ayo-ayo!
Hi, hope someone can post the picture of this mall as well as updated pictures of the construction site.. hehe thanks
Hello, does anyone know if it’s possible to buy a jeepney or taxi or tricycle with a permit in GENSAN? My email is… tugelaweg@hotmail.com thanks, Daniel
Cool… then this KABEETmap will be very useful. I wonder which part of this map the Robinsons is located.
Hi Jake! Pictures to follow soon! Thanks for dropping by.
Hi Daniel! It is very much possible. You just buy vehicles here and get your own license.
WOW! I’m impressed. For the past 5 years once a year lng ko balik ug Gensan murag wla man kaayo ni bag-o. But now things goin’ on there kinda make me skeptic yet proud!!
A lot of improvements has yet to be done in gensan not only the infrastructures but people’s fashion sense as well!! Hehehe!! Plus safe night life AND call centers!! Mas hadlok mag night life sa Gensan compared diri sa manila kay daghan ga mauy. That’s one other thing locals in gensan also has to learn. Hip urban culture!
And for a call center to work, there must Starbucks, Gloria Jeans or Coffee bean and tea leaves…the real thing!! My apologies to the existing coffee shop owners in gensan… I come in peace. I’m not gonna name any but I’ve tasted this coffee from a supposedly well now local coffee shop and I seriously think san mig instant coffee is better!
I can think of so many business opportunities to put up…secret nlang muna. But one thing is for sure… with this new development in my hometown, anything is possible!!! I’m definitely going to be back!!
@tgu6488, once you’re back, you can build your own coffee shop here which we will feature here of course…. hehehe!
let’s not stop wishing on how we envision gensan in the future. remember that this was once a very dry, barren prairie when Gen. Paulino Santos set foot 60 years ago.
who would think that gensan is where it is at now?
Thanks for your comments. keep them coming.
I can’t wait about the News of SM since Robinssion is starting to build. Currently i’m here in Doha State of Qatar, It’s a big help for all Gensan at least no need to go in Davao City. Hopefully theme Park & first class resort like Plantation Bay in Cebu….
Hay naku!…sa mga nag wiwish po na magkaron ng sturbucks, gloria jeans etc sa gensan, kombinsihin nyo si Manny Pacquiao na mag buy ng franchise nito. kasi sa tingin ko sya lang ang maka afford to bring those high end cofee shops in our city…heheh diba po?
tsaka isipin din natin kung maka afford na ba ang mga katawhang Gensan sa ganoong lifestyle…sa tingin ko one step at a time lang muna tayo.
@ Jasper, TRUE! Last time I was there I ate at McDonalds & noticed group of foreigners lining up. Just overheard them sayin’ “I wish they have Starbucks or sumthin’…
Apart from the locals, we have people from all over the country droppin’ by and those expats from DOLE (used to work there btw), foreigners… we have a lot of balikbayans also. How’s our tourism goin’? We’ve got to put in businesses with names known worldwide right? We have good local photographers we can hire to showcase tourist hot spots ( I personally recommend Montage). I’m looking forward to seeing General Santos being showcased in Living Asia channel (if wala pa). THAT will be the day I’ll pack my bags and go straight home!
So Manny if you ever get to this page (tough luck..) think about it ok?
haha nakita ko na ang picture sa mall….. hindi ko alam paano mag upload ng picture dito… ganda tlgaga promise
ang robinsons gensan bagid ang pinakadako na mall sa mindanao na robinsons???
@rodney, pag natapos na, it will be the biggest robinsons mall, 3x bigger than the one being constructed in davao at the same time. That’s according to their contractor.
@jerwi jermaine, hello! We can only hope right now that all those establishments which we could only find in Manila will soon put up shop in GenSan. Am sure, with the cooperation of both the public and private sectors, they will definitely come one day. But as of now, let’s take it one day at a time. Hinay-hinay lang. Hehehe! Thanks a lot for your comments.
We will come out soon in Living Asia Channel with their feature on the Tuna Festival. They are just fixing the script which did not pass the standards of the Tourism Office.
@amor mia, hello!
i sent you a private email but it bounced. you wrote the wrong email address.
Pullleeeaaassee!!! post the perspective view of robinson’s mall Gensan….:) kung may interior perspective paki post din po…thank you so much!
3 times? or 8 or 6 times bigger
becaus the robinson gensan is occupying 85,000 sq.m
but the robinson davao is occupying 13,000 sq.m only…..
dapat duha2x ka malls ang ihimo sa SM og robinson ang 2 kay sa Lagao ug ang 2 pa kay dd2 sa apopong…. lalang
Nice to know… at least my competition na ang Gaisano kag NCCC MALL…
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for me it’s not cool having this malls. why? it means we will be using huge amount of energy to power the air -conditions and that would mean CO2 emissions. I hope everyone is aware about global warming. our world is dying. Ice caps are melting. sea levels are rising. well, i hope everyone enjoys being in the mall.
hi amor mia heheh, san mo na website nakita nag picture ng Rob gensan?thanks..hehehe
nakakapagod basahin lhat ng comments and also d articles…
but gud thing is dat, may nagpapakahirap gumawa ng ganito 4 d benefit of GENERALS…
Go gensan GO!! ^^
buti nlng at sa harap ng SCH ang robinson’s.. lapit lng sa haws namin..
and after duty sa hospital, walking distance lng.. hehhe…
Godbless to d person(s) behind this site…
thank you to all of the investors who implied and entrusted our CITY,,,
-xoxo-
Kelan ba talaga yang SM gensan, puro lang ata plans, wlang development
Wow! I am very impress. Gensan is really booming. Good job to the mayor. I am looking forward to see the new malls in Gensan. I would like to say Hi to all my former classmates in RMMC batch 1990. Hi to all my barkadas in college at RMMC batch 1995. Hi to my teacher Mrs. Rodriguez, my economics teacher.
I want to rent a spare, where can i inquire?or call?
pls email me at amc_0221@yahoo.com.ph
thankyou
@Jasper, they are still clearing the land and building the bunk houses as of yesterday.
@Rodner, they are not using the whole of the 8.5 hectares yet… just a portion.
@Juler, competition is good for us the consumers.
@Marissa, that’s food for thought. Hmmmm…..
@Honey, thanks for appreciating my efforts. You’re always welcome to comment here.
@Berns, keep cool. Darating rin ang SM, don’t you worry…hehehe!
@Leah, you may write to:
Cornelio S. Mapa, Jr.
Business Unit Manager
Robinsons Land Corporation
Commercial Centers Division
Level 2, Galleria Corporate Center
EDSA Corner Ortigas Avenue, Quezon City
Tel # (632) 683-6100
Fax # (632) 683-6267
Hope this helps. Thanks.
hiring na po ba ang robinsons??
i wanted to apply po ka’se as management trainee..
Yup,it would be nice that Robinson’s will be operating soon…Great! so the Generals would be very competitive…
Would it also the City Engineer’s be generous to rectify the drainage system along Bula-Lagao Road, its disgusting when it comes to rainy days…tnx and more power to Bariles especially the Author..God bless!
Hello Generals
Any news about Tuna Queen Park
I’ve been hearing the words-of-mouth that both Robinsons and SM are planning on establishing their malls here in GENSAN, and when I heard it, I just said WOW, astig.
It made me believe that if it did get materialized, it would attract more investments and in no time, we’d be as urbanized as Davao is. (Though I can’t put my hopes up so high by wishing to see towering buildings here. (I’ve heard Gensan doesn’t have a good soil as foundation - I wonder how much true that is.)
But anyway, now that Robinsons General Santos has started its construction I’ll be looking forward in mall-hopping soon! And I do hope SM follows suit too.
Why there is no tallest tower in Gensan that is my Question. I even heard it before…Anyone can answer? Hopefully Queen Tuna Park will also to be develop soon like Roxas Blvd in Manila…If perspective is finished for Robinsson Mall kindly post it ASAP…Hehehe
existing building policies allows construction of up to a five-storey structures. i have not verified this so this could just be an urban legend. the reason behind it is because our airport is too close for comfort. baka bumangga ang mas matataas na building.
what about the UST in gensan…..
i hope ung itsura ng robinsons gensan like ng robinsons midtown ng manila, its relly cool,…hehehe
bakit hindi dito itinayo ang fitmart mall sa gensan? tingnan nyo nilalangaw tuloy sa marbel sayang talaga Im sure pagdito yan sa atin magclick talaga yan. Dapat e-patronize yan ng mga marbelians.
Because Marbel is the pride & home of Fitmart owner & investor. They are confident because Gensan that time was in horrible situation & they don’t expext that they would experience of bomb done by Terrorist group. Now they are facing difficulties how to attract franchiser of Brand Shop & some existing one has move out & closed.
Anyway at least they have KCC MALL & Fitmart Mall to have shop & fun.
In our City it will be more attractive & from Mid-sized to a larger city. Time will come so wait & observe what’s going on in your sorroundings. Sana may Theme Park…para mas maraming exciting place to visit…hehehehehe agree or disagree
as far as i’ve know that it is only limited to 5 storey building to put up in gensan because of type of soil that we have. pero maraming technology ngaun kayang kaya gawan ng paraan yan. ung ngang burj al arab hotel in dubai nakatayo sa dagat eh. Pile foundation ang sagot dyan, kaya lng masyadong mahal…
http://www.strangebusiness.com/content/item/116715.html
@dap, korak ka dyan!hehe almost nothing is impossible na ngayon with the most advance engineering innovations around. I think all we need is to invite and convince investors to invest in our city para gumawa sila ng mga corporate towers or buildings dito. Of course it would mean much money to be able to erect one.
With regards naman sa views ni Mr. Orman regarding proximity ng ating international airport, I dont think having high rise buildings in the CBD area of Gensan would be risky for airplanes kasi, ang paliparan natin is already at a certain elevation fron the sea level at kapag lilipad o lalapag ang mga eroplano ay mas mataas na level na ito kesa sa built-up areas ng ciudad. Sa tingin ko, mas delikado pa nga ang kalagayan ng DIA sa davao kasi malapit lang and airstrip nito sa CBD.
Anong yung CBD sorry hindi ako Engineer.
Ang layo din ng Airport sa CBD natin…. hindi siya nadadaanan ng planes… so no threat kahit na may 50-storey building tayo sa downtown… hindi rin problema ang soil, look at Manila, maraming matataas na building kahit di rin ganun ka tibay ang soil…. BTW, Cebu Pacific will be flying x weekly between Cebu and GenSan by August using the brand new Airbus A319 jet…
Umaasenso na talaga ang Gensan. Yehey!
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As of now there’s nothing impossible with the technology even 50 stories bldg gensan can accommodate that, but the problem is some of the foreighn investors and businessmen are still afraid to initiate constructing of a very high and towering building since until now they are not sure of our peace and order situation. Let’s pray for the total changes and make Gensan more progressive and peaceful place to live in.
hello…pioneer nmn at gawinlike makati ave. yung maggnda building at saka may coffee shop..tpos yun tinago dapat alisin para makita yun beach..dapat alisin mga squatter,mula s palengke hanngang silway gawin ng baywalk…
What a brilliant Idea Mike Hopefully Government has a plan for them. Considering for the development of the City & attract investor. Mr. Orman any news about this idea about the shoreline development from Silway-Tinago-Pearly Shell…Its a good attraction if that will transform into baywalk like Roxas Blvd in Manila…Its a Park to relax and enjoy the sunset…Anyone can answer or to inquire the Government…hehehehe
@jerwiJermaine - hi jermaine… well, in our last breakfast meeting with mayor jun, the city’s development plan that will be incorporated with ARCHITECT PALAFOX’ proposals is being seriously considered. the necessary budgets have been worked out and hopefully we will see fruition of these plans next year. the shoreline development covering the areas that you mentioned are indeed gonna be part of the whole project. in the meantime, we can only dream!…and hope!