SMALL-TIME businesses in Cagayan de Oro are reportedly losing profits due to the series of brownouts in the city.
Susan Ybarsabal, owner of Ibpy computer service in Divisoria area, said she lost a lot of customers during brownouts which contributed to a 30-percent reduction of her income compared last year.
She said most students usually have their requirements serviced at this time when it’s already the end of the semester.
“I really lost many customers because of the brownout. If only I could tap power source from the generator sets of my neighbor, I should have done that. Unfortunately, the special tapping would cost P200 per hour. Alkansi ko,” Ybarsabal said.
She claimed that if the rotating brownouts would continue for another month, she would be forced to shut down her business and look for another means of living.
Dr. Jerome Basang, who owns a laundry shop in Capistrano St., also said he lost his customers especially those who want rush service.
Basang said fortunately, some of his customers were patient enough and understand the situation.
Meanwhile, Cherica Sagrado, owner of a bar in Capistrano St., shared the same fate with Ybarsabal and Basang.
She said she also lost a lot of costumers who usually go to her bar for relaxation.
But with the series of brownouts, Sagrado said her regular customers have transferred to another bar with a generator set.
She said with the brownout, at least 40 percent of her sales went down.
With this, the business owners are asking the government to come up with a good solution to end the power crisis in Mindanao or else businesses would suffer more.