2024-09-05 12:44:34
The transport strike that has blocked important roads in the country is causing serious damage to the supply chain, putting thousands of tons of food and other essential products at risk.
According to FENALCO estimates, the economic losses resulting from these blockades could reach 240 billion pesos daily, worsening the crisis facing trade and industry.
Jaime Alberto Cabal, president of FENALCO, sent a letter to the ministers of Health, Transport, Commerce and Defense, requesting the urgent creation of humanitarian corridors to ensure the transit of food, medicinesmedical devices and health supplies. “It is essential that these products be prioritized to avoid an even more serious supply crisis,” said Cabal, who warned of the growing difficulties faced by various regions of the country due to the strike.
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The merchants’ spokesman also called for the safe transit of company personnel to be allowed, especially in drug distribution centers and commercial establishments.“Until now it has been impossible to provide efficient service to citizens due to restrictions and blockades,” he explained.
Cabal urged the Government to seek quick solutions to lift the strike and prevent the adverse effects from continuing to grow exponentially. The main affected areas are the departments of Cundinamarca, Santander, Norte de Santander, Meta and Boyacá, where sales have fallen between 60% and 80%. This decline is largely due to people preferring not to leave their homes or rushing to return, which has caused a notable decrease in the influx of customers to shops and restaurants, and the cancellation of work and medical appointments.
In addition to the impact on domestic trade, the blockades have affected the distribution of goods related to exports and imports.If the situation persists, economic losses will continue to increase to unsustainable levels for the commercial sector and the economy in general.
“The government must deal with this problem intelligently and without improvisation, respond to the concerns of transporters and reconsider the withdrawal of this measure, as the previous government did at the time,” Cabal stressed, urging the authorities to find a solution that alleviates the crisis without compromising the country’s stability.
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