Samar News.com

Metro Retail Expands in Biliran with Launch of Metro Naval

Press Release
June 3, 2026

CATBALOGAN CITY – Metro Retail Stores Group, Inc. (MRSGI) continues to deepen its presence in Eastern Visayas with the launch of Metro Naval, a new retail destination designed to serve communities across Biliran Province. Located in the capital municipality of Naval, the store brings Metro’s market, department store, and home lifestyle offerings together under one roof, giving residents greater access to essential goods, fashion, and home products closer to home.

The new location marks Metro Retail’s 83rd store nationwide, 65th location, and twelfth store in the Eastern Visayas region, reflecting the company’s continued focus on regional growth outside major urban centers. For Metro Retail, the expansion also signals a long-term investment in local communities by creating jobs, supporting local commerce, and improving access to modern retail experiences in developing provinces.

The launch was led by MRSGI President and Chief Operating Officer Joel Orense, together with local officials, including Biliran Governor Rogelio J. Espina, Naval Mayor Gretchen Stephanie M. Espina, and Vice Mayor Nick Arthur V. Parilla, alongside community stakeholders and business partners from the province.

“Metro Naval represents our commitment to growing alongside the communities we serve,” said Orense. “As we expand our footprint across the country, we want to ensure that families in provinces like Biliran have access to quality and affordable retail options while also creating opportunities that contribute to local economic growth.”

Naval houses Metro Market, Metro Department Store, and Metro Home Lifestyle, offering a more integrated shopping experience for residents in Naval and nearby municipalities. The company said the new store is also expected to contribute to local employment and strengthen partnerships with suppliers, vendors, and community stakeholders in the province.

For MRSGI, the expansion into Biliran reflects its broader goal of making modern retail more accessible to underserved and growing regional communities. As the company continues to grow its presence nationwide, it remains focused on building stores that contribute to consumer convenience and long-term local development.

Leyte and Tacloban City Inflation Rates Jump in April 2026

By SAMARNEWS.COM
May 13, 2026

CATBALOGAN CITY – Inflation in Leyte province and Tacloban City accelerated sharply in April 2026, driven primarily by surging transport costs, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Leyte (excluding Tacloban City)

The inflation rate for all income households in the province of Leyte (excluding Tacloban City) rose to 6.5% in April 2026, up from 3.8% in March 2026 and 1.5% a year earlier. The peso’s purchasing power weakened to 0.75, meaning a peso in 2018 now buys only 75 centavos worth of goods and services.

Transport posted the largest increase, with its inflation rate climbing to 26.3% and contributing 58.7% to the overall uptrend. Food and non-alcoholic beverages rose to 6.2%, while housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels increased to 3.4%.

Tacloban City

Tacloban City recorded a slightly lower but still elevated inflation rate of 5.9% in April 2026, compared with 4.1% in March and 0.9% in April 2025. The purchasing power of the peso stood at 0.78.

As in the rest of Leyte province, transport was the top driver, although its inflation rate of 19.7% accounted for a smaller share (36.0%) of the overall increase. Food and non-alcoholic beverages reached 6.0%, while housing-related costs rose to 2.2%.

Broader Trends

Across both areas, most commodity groups posted higher year-on-year price increases. Notable rises were also seen in health, alcoholic beverages and to***co, and restaurants and accommodation services. The PSA noted that the reference period for the indices is 2018=100.

The data were released by the PSA Regional Statistical Services Office VIII on 11 May 2026.