Philippines to Experience Loneliest Christmas Ever, Courtesy of Estrada

11/21/2014 – Manila | Charity Lugue is cleaning her stall’s empty racks while trying to sort old toys that can still be sold. She is one of the many public market toys and accessories vendors in a populated Tanauan City Public Market, whose small businesses are badly affected by the Manila truck ban.

“Ito na siguro ang pinakamalungkot na pasko. Sa halip na kumita kami e nalulugi dahil walang maitinda mula Divisoria. Magpapasko pa naman tapos wala kang mai-tinda, e baligtad ang nagyayari ngayon”, Lugue said.

The Philippine Pride Wednesday morning found out that most stores in Lipa and Tanauan Cities, which relies their supplies from Divisoria are empty. Most store owners are blaming the incident to Manila City Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada and his order to ban cargo trucks passing Manila streets particularly the busy Roxas Boulevard.

A number of manufacturing companies in Lima Technology Center, and FPIP are experiencing the same serious problem. “We already lost more than $2M since Estrada implemented the truck ban and we are continuously losing every day. Our production is delayed because we can’t get parts from Japan on time and even our factories in Japan and South Korea are affected as well”, Unsa Nakoyari, president of Shinwa Technologies in FPIP told the Philippine Pride.

“Kagagawan ni Jose Velarde to eh. Buti sya maraming pera e kami rito pasko lang ang inaasahan namin para kumita ng malaki, dinale pa nya”, Dolfo, a bakery owner who produces special puto and bibingka for special occasions said. His bakery lost more than 50% of daily income because of shortage of main ingredients from China.

Erap on the other hand won’t admit that the massive business destabilization is caused by his careless move. He said that the banning of trucks let students and office workers in Metro Manila reach their destinations earlier without delays. He failed to consider the effect to businesses and the hundreds of thousands or even millions of people that might stop working.

“It seems the old Mayor is already losing his mind without understanding that these students can’t go to school if their parents couldn’t make money because of his ignorance”, Gina, a business owner in Calamba said.

Report said there are already a number of factories in Southern Luzon who offered their employees early Christmas vacation due to unavailability of production supplies.

Estrada is firm to his decision and has no plan to ease the Filipino pain caused by his careless action. “Ako pa, I have major in Logistic Management and they have no proof that I cause delays”, Estrada referring to his detractors.

See Also: PH is World’s Biggest Dump Site: Customs Seizes 50 Containers of Used Adult Diapers from Canada

/Dina Birjen/ Assisted Press Manila

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