Philippines: Malls predicted to open own gas stations

Shopping malls in the Philippines will likely open its own filling stations. This has been predicted by a lawmaker from Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers’ Association (LPG-MA), a party-list group who fights for increased competition, consumer protection, and unfair trade practices in the Philippines.

According to LPG-MA Representative Arnel Ty, also a member of the Philippines’ House of Representatives energy committee, retailers such as SM Retail Inc., Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc., and DoubleDragon Properties Corp. will eventually establish their own service stations like what Wal-Mart did in the United States to lure more shoppers and boost retail sales.

Ty also said in the Sun Star report that increasing number of car owners and individuals who want to own a car, brought about by the country’s rosy economy and low fuel prices, would drive demand for more fuel stations.

Mall developers, the group further predicted, would develop their own brand instead of merely partnering with oil firms, a positive move to augment competition in the Southeast Asian country’s retail fuel business, which is dominated by Petron Corp., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., and Chevron Philippines Inc.