CEBU CITY — McDonald’s Philippines has opened a new branch at Il Corso, Filinvest’s seaside development along the Cebu South Coastal Road, marking the fast-food chain’s continued expansion in the province and further integrating sustainability into its store network.
The opening is also deemed special as it coincides with the company’s 44th year in the country, underscoring its long-term commitment to both the local market and the communities it serves.
The Il Corso branch, McDonald’s 36th store in the province, was formally launched with McDonald’s Philippines President and CEO Kenneth Yang, who led the opening, together with Cebu City officials, Filinvest Malls representatives, and members of the local media.
Yang said the new store takes its cue from Cebu’s reputation as the Design Capital of the Philippines, incorporating weaving- and rattan-inspired elements into its exterior and interiors. The branch also carries “Green and Good” sustainability features—solar panels, solar-powered lampposts, motion sensors, LED lighting, a rainwater harvesting system, and a Variable Refrigerant Flow air-conditioning system—to lower resource consumption and reduce the outlet’s environmental footprint.
Beyond design, the company emphasized that the store is expected to generate employment opportunities, consistent with McDonald’s long-standing policy of direct hiring. Each new branch typically employs 80 to 100 workers. Since opening its first Philippine store in 1981, McDonald’s has built a workforce of around 70,000 nationwide, many of them working students.
“Our aim is to offer opportunities to Filipinos of all backgrounds while helping them build meaningful careers,” Yang said, noting that the company provides flexible schedules and extensive training programs. McDonald’s was recently named Employer of the Year by the People Management Association of the Philippines in recognition of its employment practices.
The launch also saw the signing of a memorandum of agreement with the Cebu City government to implement the company’s “M for All” inclusive hiring program for senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Under the deal, 17 McDonald’s stores in Cebu will employ 102 seniors for three-month engagements. The program, introduced in 2019, is already active in several cities nationwide.
McDonald’s highlighted ongoing community and relief efforts as part of its engagement in the region. In the aftermath of earthquakes and Typhoons Tino and Uwan, the company’s Kindness Kitchen distributed more than 50,000 hot meals to affected residents, frontliners, volunteers, and its own employees. Ahead of the store opening, McDonald’s also worked with Filinvest Land on a coastal cleanup activity at Il Corso last September.
As the company enters its 45th year, McDonald’s said it will continue expanding its store network and advancing initiatives under its Green and Good platform, combining sustainability features with localized design elements that reflect the communities where it operates.