Prices of basic goods spike in Tawi-Tawi amid Sabah conflict

BONGAO, Tawi-Tawi, Philippines– As the tension between Malaysian authorities and armed followers of the Sultanate of Sulu holed up in Sabah continues, goods coming to and from Malaysia have been constricted, forcing traders here to jack up their prices.

On this island-province, which is geographically closer to Sabah than the country’s political center, most of the products, including food, fuel and clothing, are imported from Malaysia.

Rice in Bongao, for instance, is now being sold at P750 to P800 per sack from its original price of P680, while fuel is sold at P60 per liter from its original price of P45 per liter.

Said Assim, a captain of a trading vessel that recently arrived from Sandakan, said it will be difficult to continue trading due to the present hostilities in Sabah.

“But we were not harmed when we were in Sandakan,” Assim said.

Rice vendors also said that unlike before, consumers are now buying in smaller volume.

“Before, they (would) buy by the sack or … 10 kilograms. Now, people are only buying one or two kilograms (of rice),” one vendor said.

Abdajer Assan, a fuel retailer in Bongao, said they have to raise their prices because the supply has dropped.

With the increase in fuel prices, tricycle drivers also immediately implemented fare hikes.

“We need to increase the fare from P10 to P15,” said trike driver John Andas.

Vendors are now worried about where to get supplies if traders cannot slip through the country’s borders with Malaysia.

“I guess we have no other option but to get supplies from Zamboanga, which is more expensive,” another vendor said.