Mindanao food prices soar as Malaysia closes border

MANILA, Philippines – Prices of food and other basic commodities in Tawi-Tawi and Sulu have soared after the Malaysian government closed Sabah to traders from Mindanao.

Sabah has been off-limits to traders since last month after its border gates were drawn in the wake of the kidnapping of Malaysian sailors by Abu Sayyaf bandits.

Currently, traders in Tawi-Tawi and Sulu source their rice, sugar, flour, cooking oil and noodles from Zamboanga City, which is much farther than the ports of Sabah.

Prices of rice have surged 77 percent, from P620 to P1,100 per 25-kilogram sack, while sugar went up 80 percent to P2,900 per 50-kilogram sack from P1,600.

Cooking oil increased to P80 per liter from P60, while prices of noodles almost doubled to P56 per kilo from P30.

Almost all goods being sold in the markets of Sulu and Tawi-Tawi come from Sabah because of the significantly lower price, good quality and halal certification.

“People are complaining of the price hike and some were saying that it was because of the kidnapping incident along the border of Sabah and the Philippines,” Kausar Aming, project officer of Lupah Sug Bangsamoro Women Association Inc., told The STAR.

Non-government organizations (NGOs) have appealed to local and national governments to monitor the situation in Mindanao and coordinate with Malaysia on trade matters.

“We also appeal to the Malaysian government to reopen Sabah to traders from Sulu,” the groups said.

Aming said businessmen and traders in Sabah are also requesting the Malaysian government to lift the blockade, as they are feeling the negative impact of the trade embargo.

The NGOs urged the government to provide food aid to communities as an interim measure.

“We are not yet updated as to the efforts being done by the local government. The last we heard was that the governor of Tawi-Tawi was willing to work with the Malaysian government for the security of the border,” Aming said.

The groups appealed to incoming president Rodrigo Duterte to put a stop to what they described as bad practices of military officers in the area.

“Instead of terminating the terrorist group, the military is recruiting them as assets so they can share in the ransom payment,” Octavio Dinampo, executive director of Tulung Lupah Sug Inc., said in a text message to The STAR.