Duck raisers in Victoria, Laguna hit by high fuel costs receive aid from GMA Kapuso Foundation

Residents in Victoria, Laguna, including duck raisers, hog raisers, farmers, and fishermen, received aid from the GMA Kapuso Foundation as high fuel prices and a slowdown in business took a toll on their livelihoods.

According to "24 Oras" Monday, the high fuel costs and the hot weather have been a blow to Anthony Alvarez, a duck raiser.

Aside from the high cost of duck feed prices and fuel, the heat has also caused his ducks' egg production to slow down.

"Lahat po tumaas, 'yung feeds and then 'yung diesel. Syempre nadoble' yung aking gastos. Na-i-istress din ang mga itik pag sobrang init," he shared.

Aloha Malaga has also stopped selling salted eggs for now in Baclaran due to slow business. From earning over P1,000 a day, she only earned around P200 a day in April.

"Ang hirap i-byahe dahil talo sa traffic tapos wala nang bumili dahil sa dami ng taong walang pera," she said.

Meanwhile, Ariel Urbana, who uses an incubator to store his balut eggs, has been hit hard by electricity costs. Before, he used to deliver balut to stores four times a week, but has scaled down his deliveries to twice a week.

"Kasi tumaas 'yung diesel, kinompress namin into two routes na lang so 'yung iba hindi nakasabay sa timing, 'yung mga tindahan," he said.

To help, GMA Kapuso Foundation headed to Victoria, Laguna, and distributed food packs to pig and duck raisers, fishermen, and farmers.

"Ito po'y isang simbolo ng pagkakaisa at bayanihan, tulad po ng ginagawa ninyo," said Dr. Katheleen Yambot, municipal administrator in Victoria, Laguna'

Meanwhile, the foundation is set to go to Albay on Tuesday to bring relief goods and face masks to residents affected by the ashfall caused by Mayon Volcano's unrest.

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