By Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan – The
world stood still as economic activities in Isabela City and its neighboring
city and municipalities in the province of Basilan were paralyzed with the
ongoing standoff in Zamboanga City.
Basic goods and commodities started running
out in the capital city of Isabela since the Moro National Liberation Front
(MNLF)-Misuari faction attacked some barangays in Zamboanga City. The crisis
forced all public ferries and sea vessels to suspend regular trips to and from
Isabela City and Zamboanga.
Local businessmen said most basic goods such
as vegetables, chicken, and flour are sourced from Zamboanga City.
The Provincial Crisis Management Council (PCMC)
said locally produced goods could not meet the local demand, requiring goods
from neighboring cities and provinces.
PCMC also reported that “local produce/goods
are also exhausted.”
Prizes of commodities also began to increase.
Prizes of chicken rose from P120.00 per kilo to P160.00 per kilo. Chinese
cabbage (pechay) reached P30.00 per
bunch from the usual P5.00. Some bakeries began to close shop as stocks of
flour ran out.
Tricycle drivers are also hard hit by the
crisis as schools suspended classes since Sept. 9 until today.
Manong Lito, a tricycle driver said that he
barely raise P100.00 in a day. This amount, he said is not enough for the
boundary (rental) of his tricycle which costs P120.00.
Public and private offices and establishments
also suspended work. Workers also opted not to report to work for fear of being
caught in any eventualities.
Schools remain empty despite Isabela City
Mayor Cherrylyn Santos-Akbar’s announcement on Tuesday that “classes at all
levels may resume on Sept. 18 (Wednesday).
Since the start of the conflict in Zamboanga,
the PCMC has chartered a private vessel to ferry stranded Basilan-bound
passengers from Zamboanga. It also resolved to use the vessel to bring in goods
and basic commodities from Zamboanga subject to the clearance of the Zamboanga
CMC.
In a statement Wednesday, Isabela City Mayor
Akbar said that “there is no scheduled ferry yet due to security concerns.” She
said that the army’s 4th Special Forces battalion is assisting the local
government unit in transporting passengers to and from Zamboanga City, but only
for those with urgent concern and or patients needing special medical attention
in Zamboanga City.
“The peace and order in the city is
relatively normal but we still have to be extra vigilant and [be] more careful
especially with bombing and kidnapping [threats], aside from MNLF attack in the
city,” Mayor Akbar said as she called on the public to stay united and
supportive of one another. (PIA9)