DAVAO CITY — Duty Free Philippines Corp. (DFPC) is eyeing a revenue boost with the renovation and opening of new stores next year in the Visayas and Mindanao.
In a statement, the government-owned retail company said their shops at the airports in the cities of Iloilo, Bacolod, and Davao are already lined up for refurbishment within the first quarter of 2020, while the one in Kalibo, Aklan will be expanded.
“We are eyeing (outlets) on Puerto Princesa airport (in Palawan) and the new Panglao airport in Bohol,” said Maria Lourdes P. Malabuyo, DFPC marketing officer.
She said they are just waiting for “the international flights to improve or increase in terms of frequency and origin/destination to make the operations of duty free shops feasible and sustainable.”
DFPC reported a $217-million revenue in 2018, up 2% from $213 million the previous year.
Of the total income, about 15% comes from the Visayas outlets, mainly the Mactan Cebu International Airport.
The Davao City outlet, the only one in Mindanao, accounted for under 1%.
DFPC currently has 11 shops nationwide, including its flagship Fiestamall adjacent to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
It has also started operating its “Shop-Now-Pick-Later” program, an online shopping system wherein buyers can place their orders from their point of origin and get the items at the Fiestamall. — Carmelilto Q. Francisco
