CEBU, Philippines - The business sector in Cebu expressed concern on the possibility of the President expanding martial law to the Visayas.
Although business leaders are confident that this is just a temporary repercussion and that it won’t directly affect the promising economic prospects of the Philippines.
"I hope the martial law will only be contained in Mindanao. If it will be declared in the Visayas, it should concern especially the business sector, as the situation will give ugly impressions to investors," said Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) past president Ma. Theresa Chan.
Chan hopes that Visayas will be spared from the rule, as it is generally peaceful, even Bohol is already cleared from terrorists.
On the other hand, Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) president Glenn Soco believes that the effects of this kind of untoward events are already factored in by the country's economic goal setting.
"Generally we don't think that there will be any major effects in business and tourism. Terrorism has been the primary concern at present of any country anywhere in the world. We support our President's decisiveness in declaring martial law as a proactive means of attaining normalcy and to sustain our growth. Let us make them do their jobs as we do our share also of maintaining the positive pace and mindset," Soco said.
If there will be an effect, Soco believes that it will be temporary and wont drag the country's vibrant economic growth trail down.
In a report, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino has urged the people in the Visayas to rally behind President Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao.
In a press statement Dino called the support of the Visayans on the martial law declaration in Mindanao, "let us set aside politics and for once rally behind the flag as we pray for our troops and policemen who are working hard to maintain peace."
Dino said his office is closely working with the Armed Forces of the Philippines Central Command, Police Regional Office-7, Philippine Coast Guard, Maritime Industry Authority, and other agencies of government to form a task force that will secure the Visayan seas.
This aims to prevent terrorists and other criminal elements from entering the central Philippine provinces.
Dino also appealed for sobriety and asked netizens to avoid posting information on social media that may further exacerbate the situation in Marawi City. (FREEMAN)