By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
PASIG CITY – Muslim traders in Greenhills, San Juan City are ready to provide Filipinos with quality and inexpensive products, especially during the Holiday Season.
During the Kapihan sa Metro East Media Forum organized by the PaMaMariSan-Rizal Press Corps and supported by Pinoy Ako advocacy group, Engr. Nassif Malawani, President of Metro Manila Muslim Traders Association and Greenhills Muslim Business Club Foundation, said that GH Mall is their place of business, noting that 20 years ago, the Greenhills Shopping Center was then being sold by the Ortigas family.
Malawani recalled that the Muslim “tiangge” business boomed in Greenhills, who have succeeded in their business, were from Mindanao, Jolo, Maguindanao – Yakan, and Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte.
The Muslim traders contributed to the economic boom of San Juan City during the time of the Estrada family in politics.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the business in Greenhills was affected, but now, they are now in the road to recovery.
The US Trade had placed the Greenhills area in the Watchlist during the time of Mayor Guia Gomez, the traders were ordered to as soon as possible minimize the piracy, especially that there was the IPO (Intellectual Property Office), the Ortigas family themselves summoned those traders who are violating the piracy law.
In other countries, people see that there’s no piracy in the Philippines, but in the other places in the Philippines, they see that there’s piracy in Greemhills, San Juan City.
The piracy is allegedly present in IT, jewelries, and merchandise, which during the time of Mayor Francis Zamora ordered the crackdown against piracy, especially in the Greenhills area, so much so that the Ortigas & Company family took it upon themselves to run after piracy.
Malawani stressed that they are policing their own ranks against piracy, saying that the Greenhills Shopping Center which is now GH Mall, is considered as a “tourist spot” in the Philippines, hence, piracy is out of the question when it comes to IT products, jewelries and piracy are concerned.
He noted the “good working relationship” between the Muslim traders groups and the City Government of San Juan, majority of who belong to the Maranao tribe who really want peace and order in the area.
On tax, their relationship was good, such that they are paying the right taxes, and the City Government of San Juan is working fast as far as business permits are concerned.
Malawani could not discount the possibility that there might be counterfeit or stolen cellphone in Greenhills, but he assured that their group s not involved whatsoever in piracy.
Each individual is paying tax depending on the sale, noting that piracy involved imported from China, which has been a common knowledge.
Malawani just gave a “cold shoulder” on a recent hostage-taking incident in Greenhills, but he admitted that the Covid-19 pandemic really had impacted on their business, noting that almost all of the Muslim traders in Greenhills went back home to their respective provinces.
However, he was very grateful to the Ortigas & Company for generously giving them a huge discount for their business.
Two years many local products have sunk, but Malawani said that the Muslim traders are really “gambling” or doing everything to sell the local products, saying that they are hoping that there would be a decrease in the P50,000 rental fee per month in Greenhills, San Juan City.
Known personalities are trooping to the Greenhills area, especially when it is reported that a member of a Royal Family has purchased jewelry products in Greenhills, San Juan City.
The Ortigas & Company are really imposing strict penalties on violators of piracy law in the Greenhills area.
Malawani said that there’s a “big difference’ in sales during the Christmas Season and the non-Holiday Season, adding that they are not increasing the price of cellphones, jewelries and merchandise during the Holiday Season.
Mayor Francis Zamora was the one announcing a “Big Sale” in the GH Mall as he is a friend to the youth, businessmen and the people of San Juan City.
“In the mercy of Allah. In Shallah, the Muslim traders in Greenhills have already recovered from the negative economic impact brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic,” Malawani said.
Malawani noted that the DICT (Department of Information Communication Technology) is providing training on Information Technology for Muslim traders in San Juan City.
“Our products are really of good quality and not expensive, and strict security measures are the reasons why Filipinos are patronizing products in Greenhills,” Malawani said.
He noted that products in China are not expensive, but with the alleged proliferation of cheaper products or pirated products, they are now a “thing of the past”, saying that if you are selling a product that is not earning a profit, there is no more reason for that business to exist.
Malawani stressed that they have nothing more to ask for from Mayor Francis Zamora in the sense that the City Government of San Juan has already provided all the necessities for a “good and conducive business condition” in Greenhills.
At the same time, Malawani urged President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to operationalize the Marawi Compensation Board in order to prioritize the compensation to victims of the Marawi City Siege.
He also called on Filipinos to continue to patronize the products in GH Mall, saying that he is ready to address the problems and concerns of buyers, adding that Muslim traders are 100 percent ready to provide them with quality and inexpensive products, especially during the Christmas Season.
