Championing the Cebuano Shopper: Metro Retail Reaffirms Commitment to Fair Trade, Quality, and Community Trust

For everyday shoppers across Cebu, a trip to the supermarket or department store is about more than just checking items off a grocery list. It is about peace of mind, fair pricing, and a safe, welcoming environment. Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. (MRSGI) continues to prioritize this consumer-first mindset, ensuring that trust and service excellence remain at the heart of its daily operations across the province.

This ongoing dedication to consumer welfare and responsible retailing was recently validated on a national level when eleven of MRSGI’s Cebu locations received the 2025 Bagwis Award from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) this past June 19, 2026. However, for the retail giant, the true measure of success isn’t the hardware on the wall, but the daily confidence of the communities they serve.

The Bagwis distinction highlights establishments that go above and beyond to protect consumer rights. For MRSGI, this translates to everyday realities on the store floor: transparent pricing on shelves, rigorous quality checks on fresh produce and goods, ethical trade practices, and a welcoming atmosphere where customer concerns are swiftly addressed.

These high standards are lived out daily across MRSGI’s key community hubs in the region. Among the eleven locations celebrated for their consumer-centric environments are Metro Colon Supermarket and Department Store, Metro Ayala Supermarket and Department Store, Metro Canduman Supermarket, Metro Wholesale Mart Colon, Super Metro Colon, Super Metro Basak Mambaling, Metro IT Park, Metro Supermarket Banawa, and Super Metro Toledo. These branches serve as vital neighborhood staples where thousands of Cebuanos rely on MRSGI for their daily household and lifestyle needs.

For MRSGI leadership, external milestones are simply reflections of the internal, everyday habits of their workforce.

“We are honored to receive this recognition from the DTI, as it affirms our commitment to putting customers at the heart of our operations,’’ said Joselito Orense, MRSGI President and Chief Operating Officer. “This achievement reflects the dedication of our store teams, whose hard work and passion enable us to provide excellent service while upholding the highest standards of responsible retailing.”

Ultimately, MRSGI views consumer protection not as a regulatory hurdle, but as the foundation of a lasting relationship with its shoppers. By championing ethical business practices and continuously refining the customer experience, the company aims to ensure that every time a Cebuano walks through their doors, they are met with the reliability, respect, and quality they deserve.

As MRSGI looks to the future, the company extends its deepest gratitude to its frontline store teams in Cebu, the cashiers, shelf-stockers, department managers, and customer service representatives, whose daily smiles and unwavering dedication truly bring the company’s promise of service excellence to life.

(Top row, from left) Consul Anton Mari Perdices, VP for Bus. Dev. (Cebu Chamber of Commerce & Industry); Esperanza T.L. Melgar, Acting Regional Director (DTI-7); Marivic V. Aguilar, Provincial Director (DTI-Cebu); Atty. Airene E. Abapo, Chief Consumer Protection Division (DTI-Cebu); and Jay Fernandez, President (Philippine Retailers Association – Cebu Chapter);
(Bottom row, from left) Emma Villoson (Metro Wholesale Mart Colon); Angelito Dublin (Metro Toledo); Lovella Duamguing (Super Metro Colon); Antonia Luisa Estrada (Metro Canduman); Maricel Florita (Area Manager, South Cebu); May Sadwarny Sasedor (Area Manager, Central Cebu); Charito Dagotdot (Metro Ayala Center Cebu); Diana Almagro (Metro Colon); Oliver Repuela (Metro Paseo); Judy Marie Gilo (Super Metro Mambaling); and Roel Manco (Metro Cebu IT Park), during the awarding ceremony of Bagwis Award by the Department of Trade and Industry.