Business as usual in Cag de Oro

IT’S business as usual in Cagayan de Oro City.

This is the slogan of the city, as agreed by the business community, the tourism department and local police office during the recent meeting of the City Council committee on trade and commerce chaired by Councilor George Goking.

Councilor Goking called for an emergency meeting with the city administrator, acting city treasurer, city tourism officer, city police director, and representatives of the Local Economic and Investment Promotions Office, Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Oro Chamber of Commerce and Misamis Oriental Fil-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. to discuss published reports that the local business sector suffered P200 million losses following the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao.

During the meeting, Oro Chamber representative Chris Ivan Lagapa clarified that the losses were not only incurred because of the declaration of Martial Law but because of what happened in Marawi City.

He said the figures were based on telephone interviews with members from May 25 to 29. The losses came from the services sector, he added.

The Oro Chamber representative said there were cancellations of hotel bookings and feedbacks that some potential investors decided to put their investments on hold.

Councilor Jay Pascual, chair of the committee on tourism, said the biggest loss was from cancellation of bookings for the Asean summit which was scheduled in Cagayan de Oro. He, however said, it is not a big blow to the hotel industry as local bookings for weddings and other events are still ongoing.

The biggest impact was on the first week, however, it is picking up, Pascual added.

According to Adelfa Sia, president of MOFCCCI, it’s not all loss because with the influx of refugees from Marawi City, there was an increase in sales for retail goods.

SAFE BUT BE VIGILANT

Even the local police office believes the tagline “business as usual” should be adopted by the city, since Cagayan de Oro is still a safe place.

It was, however, stressed that constituents should remain vigilant.

We cannot assure that terrorists are not here but we can assure the people that the police are doing the best they can, said a COCPO official.

CONTINUE TO LIVE

Councilor Pascual stressed that city residents should be careful but should not live in fear.

“Kon mahadlok ta, daug ang mga Maute because that’s their aim,” he stressed.

According to the councilor, fear will have a crippling effect on the city.

“Of course we should always be careful but it doesn’t mean that we should stop living,” he added.

With this, Councilors Goking and Pascual call on residents to refrain from circulating fake news and unfounded bomb scare texts in the city.