TWELVE DAYS INTO THE CRISIS, Zamboanga City continues to rise from the devastation wrought by MNLF infiltration, putting to a test our people’s strength and determination.
Yesterday, I said a sense of normalcy is felt in most parts of the city because work in government offices and private establishments outside the conflict area have resumed as commercial flights to and from Zamboanga also restarted. Today, more and more agencies and commercial establishments opened doors to serve the public; traffic on streets mount anew and more and more people resume their normal schedules—proofs of a solid and strong citizenry amidst the crisis.
This morning, the Crisis Management Committee met with Sec. Luistro of DEPED together with Sec. Dinky of DSWD to tackle the important issue of when and how to resume classes in the city. It is very unfortunate that our children – our city’s future – are one of the sectors most hard hit by the crisis.
Mechanisms are now being set to help the students – particularly those directly affected by the conflict numbering some 12,000 – avail of the Alternative Delivery Mode and the Distant Learning Mode for students who became hostage victims.
The resumption of classes will likewise depend on the go-signal of our Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PNP to ensure that it is safe for our children to go back to school.
Preparations are also underway for the rehabilitation phase that will include the housing, employment and other needs of the evacuees and other families directly or indirectly affected by the conflict brought about by the MNLF infiltration.
President Noy has announced the allocation of P3.64B for the recovery program and the City Government will be working closely with key government agencies to ensure that this plan will be implemented efficiently and effectively. Secretary Dinky will also elaborate on the details of the different schemes that will be put in place for this program.
It is saddening to note that the Zamboanga crisis is not only affecting the city and our people but even the neighboring provinces and cities are also part of the collateral damage.
Zamboanga City, being the commercial center of the region contributes 50-70% to the economy of Region 9 or Zamboanga Peninsula. Studies made by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) estimates economic losses in Zamboanga City due to the present crisis at P331.3M per day or equivalent to P4 Billion for the 12 days conflict.
This covers the following sectors—agri, forestry and fishing; manufacturing; transportation and storage; trade; financial intermediation (banks and non-banking financial institutions); real estate, renting, business activities; public administration and defense and other services (education, medical, health, recreation, hotel among others)
Estimated economic losses per day in Zamboanga City due to the present crisis:
Agri, Forestry and Fishing – P77,727,526
Manufacturing (canned sardines alone P67,000,000) – P95,250,816
Transportation and Storage – P20,661,889
Trade – P45,788,363
Financial Intermediation (Banks and non-banking financial institutions) –
P19,462,644
Real Estate, Renting, Business Activities – P15,200,539
Public Administration and Defense – P15,053,128
Other Services (Education, Medical, Health, Recreation, hotel, among others) – P42,191,780
Total – P331,336,685
The curfew remains the same from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. to ensure that safety measures are kept intact. For the business establishments that are thinking to open during the weekend, we give you discretionary judgment. For the classes, we shall keep you posted over the weekend for the announcement as soon as we get information from our ground commanders.
Querido compoblanos, bien largo pa gayot el di aton sufrimiento maskin que akaba ya este conflicto, manada pa gayot siempre kita cosa que debe hace para lebanta otravez con el di aton unico Ciudad de Zamboanga. Ta apela gayot yo siempre con ustedes otravez, esta kita unido y fuerte y junto-junto kita lebanta desde el destroso de este crisis. Otravez, ta llama kita con el mga oficiales de barangay, mga tanods y mga BINs que hace el mga coordinacion para asigura el seguriadad na de aton mga barangay.
Let us remain steadfast in our commitment to keep our beloved Zamboanga solid and strong. Our experience in this crisis represents the richness of Zamboanga’s diversity. We are only pushed to stand brave through all these, as we seek out God’s purpose in all that has happened in our city.
Este maga dia, ta para iyo con orgullo kay iyo un Zamboangueña. Ta rindi yo miles de gracias con todo maga Zamboangueños por el de ustedes suporta y ayuda. Y contodo con ustedes que ta ama con el mga Zamboangueños y con el Zamboanga, ta cre kame kay ustedes el de amon fuerza.
I am proud that I am a Zamboangueña and I thank all Zamboangueños for all your support and help. To all of you who love us Zamboangueños and our city, we believe that you are all the wind beneath our wings.
As always, we remain, under one flag, one Philippines, one Zamboanga! Vaya con Dios!
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