BUSINESSMEN on Monday, June 5, said the security situation in Mindanao is eliciting collective jitters, adding the continuing uncertainty already caused regional businesses to lose some P200 million since fighting erupted in Marawi City on May 23.
Speaking during the security briefing for the business sector on Monday, at the Limketkai Luxe Hotel, Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation (Oro Chamber) president Robertino Pizarro said the tourism and services sectors have been the worst hit, posting losses of about 80 percent.
The trade and commerce have not been spared with many, if not all, experiencing cancellations of orders, losses, and delays of deliveries.
Pizarro said some companies have resorted to changing business hours to avoid getting stuck in traffic.
While expressing their confidence in the government, Pizarro said they hope martial law will "not last long".
"Because the businesses are affected, hindi na bale ang foreign, we should take care of us na andito, and what can the government do as well as the military to help us regularize the businesses," Pizarro said.
"There's a little bit inconvenience in the checkpoints but we need to be a little patient, because after all of this, the business interest in Mindanao will not only double but triple," he added.
Chief Superintendent Agripino Javier, regional director of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Northern Mindanao, asked the more than 100 businessmen in attendance for more patience.
Javier said checkpoints are expected to be stricter to prevent a spillover of the conflict.
Javier said he has also requested the national headquarters to allow the pull out of PRO-Northern Mindanao policemen deployed in Marawi City so that the additional policemen can man and patrol the region.
"Maraming mga local government unit (LGU) na nagre-request na additional na police, kasi nga isang company ng RPSB ay naipadala doon sa Marawi at yung ibang probinsya binawasan ko kasi para magcheckpoint sa lanao, kasi ang katwiran ko is kung maharang nila sa Lanao, magiging kampante na tayo dito sa Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental, pero hindi ganoon kaya I am constantly requesting our national headquarters para payagan na na ipabalik o i-pull out na sila sa Marawi para mailagay sila sa checkpoints dito, pagod na pagod na kasi mga pulis natin dito," Javier said.
Mayor Oscar Moreno, meanwhile, urged the business community to remain positive as this would give comfort and assurance to the public.
He also encouraged businessmen to help in the relief operations for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) some of whom have sought shelter in the city and in neighboring towns.
"We are doing everything we can to show and demonstrate that it is business as usual in Cagayan de Oro," he said.
"Although our checkpoints caused inconvenience to many, there are more text messages came to me asking why there are no checkpoints in certain areas, than complaints," Moreno said.
Colonel Eric Vinoya, commander of the 403rd Infantry Brigade of Army's 4th Infantry Division (4ID) for his part assured the businessmen that they have established static and mobile checkpoints in key cities and "strong points" along the Bukidnon-Lanao boundary.
He said they have also organized quick response forces and medical teams and have enhanced security of key facilities and vital installations, including the beefing up of security at the Laguindingan airport and seaports.
