MANILA, Philippines - Teresita Sebastian, vice chairperson of the Mindanao Business Council, on Monday said while several businesses in Zamboanga have opened, the central business district remains closed. "Businesses in the so-called 'safe zone' set by the police force in Zamboanga are allowed to open. But the other business establishments within the 'unsafe zones' are given the discretion on whether to open or not," Sebastian told ANC. Sebastian noted that as of today (September 23), only around 62% of the banks in Zamboanga are open. According to Sebastian, all business sectors--from service, to canning, to fishing--suffered heavy loses during the past two weeks due to the on-going standoff between the government and rebels. "I can tell you that everyone is badly hit. Businesses in the service sector, the canning, and the fishing sector are affected after two weeks of fighting," she said. "We don't want to do an over estimate of the loses but I can tell you that we are losing so much money." As the standoff continued for a 15th straight day, government forces were said to be closing in on the remaining MNLF Nur Misuari faction fighters in the city.