Commerce at standstill due to network outage

IT&E’s network outage is expected to exact a big toll on the islands’ economy as business is literally at a standstill.

Customers can’t use debit or credit cards for most of the establishments on island and cash became the only recognizable asset to have on hand.

“Everybody’s just concerned about being able to get access to their money and being able to transact, that’s the issue. Commerce is relatively at a standstill because most people use credit cards, debit cards,” said Chamber of Commerce president Alex Sablan.

“This is going to be a struggle for the day and maybe the next day. I don’t know how long this is going to take,” he added.

Sablan said that they are concerned about how the backup system did not work and is hoping that IT&E will fix the problem soon.

“As we understood, when the cable goes down there’s supposed to be a microwave system that’s a redundancy right so we’re concern that that redundancy just didn’t kick in,” Sablan said.

“Commerce is going to be at a relative standstill until the backup system and we’re hoping IT&E gets it back up soon,” he added.

He also pointed out that the Commonwealth is losing money because of the disruption.

“That’s the tough part. Commerce is down. Government is not making money,” Sablan said.

One of the few food establishments that can still accept cards is McDonald’s because of an old, non-online machine that they have, according to manager Julie Jones.

Limited bank operations

All automated teller machines are not functioning on island.

Aside from that, banks are not able to access their customers’ accounts. There is no problem with deposit transactions but withdrawal transactions are hard.

For Bank of Guam, manager Larry Philip said that withdrawal transactions are on a case-to-case basis.

“There are certain things that we are reviewing to make sure that everything is according to our operations,” Philip said.

“We are basing on the knowledge that we have on our customers,” he added.

Bank of Hawaii did not give an official comment on the network problem but posted on their machines and doors that they are unable to process withdrawal transactions until further notice.

However, a teller said withdrawal transactions over the counter may still be possible in some cases if you have your account numbers as well as identification cards.

Some checks may still be encashed.

Request for help

Homeland Security and Emergency Management deputy special assistant Gerald Deleon Guerrero said that they are communicating with Guam and the Joint Region Marianas regarding the network problem in the CNMI and may request support.

“I’m leaning forward to make a request data-wise and communication,” Deleon Guerrero said.

He added that the Joint Region Marianas may have a facility or equipment that could further help CNMI in terms of getting better communication access although because of the typhoon, transporting the equipment may also take a while.

Deluge of customers

IT&E employee Franz Granada said customers have been coming in and out of their office since yesterday morning asking for updates.

One customer, Nicolas Claxton, who is doing a teaching assistance job in the mainland, was one of those who went by hoping to get a way to call long distance.

“I’m in charge of doing grades and things like that and I can’t do anything because I don’t have online access and since I can’t call out, I can’t even let them know that I can’t do it,” Claxton said, adding that today was supposed to be the deadline for his task.