6,200 individuals in Zambales affected by fuel price hikes receive food packs from GMA Kapuso Foundation

A total of 6,200 individuals in Masinloc, Zambales, who have been affected by the fuel price hikes due to the Middle East conflict received aid from GMA Kapuso Foundation. 

According to "24 Oras" on Friday, among the beneficiaries of the foundation's Operation Bayanihan project were fishermen who faced harassment at the hands of the China Coast Guard in Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, in 2012. 

Rolando Fuentes, a fisherman, no longer goes far out to sea after the incident. As his earnings lessened, he has taken on a side job as a tricycle driver. 

"Wino-water canon kami doon. Sa pangisda lang naming dun ng isang linggo, makakuha kami ng apat na tonelada o limang tonelada, mamahaling isda ang kinukuha namin doon," he shared. 

The rising oil prices have affected Rolando's earnings. What he used to earn from driving, about P500, has now dropped to around P200 to P300. 

He also now only goes out to sea once a week. 

"Diesel po sa amin dito, nasa 133, umabot na nga ng 150 'yun. 'Pag kami lumalaot, nasa 30 liters ubusin namin, one way lang 'yan. Eh kung may huli ka lang dun ng bente kilos, wala, talo ka," he said. 

To help those affected by the fuel price hikes, the GMA Kapuso Foundation headed to Masinloc, Zambales, where it distributed food packs to 6,200 individuals, including the fisherfolk community. 

"Ngayon mas nahihirapan na kasi sila, syempre mas malaki na 'yung pang-konsumo nila, kumbaga puhunan nila bago lalaot. So 'pag bibili sila ng gasolina, minsan na may pagkakataon pa dito na nagkakaubusan," said Joanne Aragon, an aquacultural technologies at the Masinloc local government unit. 

Previously, the foundation also distributed aid to the fisherfolk community in Aurora and Camarines Norte, as well as farmers in Oriental Mindoro and Negros Oriental. 

For those who wish to support GMA Kapuso Foundation's projects, donations may be made via Metrobank, Land Bank, BDO, Bank of Commerce, UnionBank, PNB, Cebuana Lhuillier, GCash, Lazada, Shopee, and Palawan Pay. Visit the GMA Kapuso Foundation website for more information.

—CDC, GMA News