‘We’re in the dark: ’Rota’s fragile business sector reeling from one storm after another
- Admin
- 5 minutes ago
- 2 min read
By Bryan Manabat
Songsong, Rota—Super Typhoon Bavi delivered a second major blow to Rota’s fragile business sector this year, as several merchants were still reeling from Super Typhoon Sinlaku, which struck the region in April.
"It’s been hard, downhill,” said Juan Pan Tenorio Guerrero, acting president of the Rota Chamber of Commerce. “Sinlaku was just three months past us and we haven’t fully recovered in any economic sense."
The island’s commercial community is facing immediate challenges ranging from debris removal to prolonged power outages that threaten food supplies and basic operations. “Keeping power is the general issue,” Guerrero said. “If we continue to have no power for the next few weeks, it’s very hard to keep frozen items. All the restaurants and retail stores are running basically on generators and fuel is expensive.”
Several stores, including Safeway, Sunshine, Lucky Store and the Ad Store, are struggling to maintain inventory and refrigeration. Even the gas station in Songsong needs urgent assistance to keep pumps operating.
Shipping disruptions have added another layer of strain. Guerrero described chaotic scenes at the dock when the first cargo vessel arrived after Bavi received clearance from the U.S. Coast Guard.
“People were practically at the dock trying to get their provisions,” he said. “You have commercial and then you have consumers trying to claim cargo. I think the shipping company should concentrate on the commercial side rather than the consumer. Let the consumer go to the airport.”
Rebuilding costs are also expected to rise, driven by global fuel volatility and supply chain pressures. “We’re bombarded by the U.S. situation with fuel and Iran,” Guerrero said. “We don’t know where the end is. We’re struggling, feeling like we’re in the dark.”
Despite the challenges, Guerrero is grateful to relief organizations, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for assisting the island.
But food security remains a concern. Due to a lack of fresh meat, residents have been consuming canned goods. "They need fresh food,” Guerrero said. “But again, we don’t have any USDA plan to slaughter (livestock). It’s a catch‑22.”
Guerrero estimated that basic community recovery could take at least three months, although business revenue may take six months to a year to rebound. He noted that even essential services remain disrupted. “The post office has been closed for the last 10 days,” he said. “A lot of people depend on their Amazon, Kmart and Walmart deliveries. We need things to open in their natural way so people can start moving on with their lives.”
He also urged federal action on a major disaster declaration. “President Trump is taking his sweet time declaring a major disaster declaration,” Guerrero said. “If you come to Rota, you look and say, ‘Oh, it’s a 100 percent declaration.’ But we’re at the mercy of the U.S. government.”
Guerrero encouraged residents to stay patient and continue cleanup efforts. “People are suffering. When you’re suffering, you have anguish, you have stress,” he said. “Let’s continue to be friendly. We wave and we smile.”
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