Half of Luzon fishers stopped fishing amid fuel hikes — SINAG

Nearly half of marginal fishers in some Luzon provinces have stopped going out to sea due to rising fuel prices, the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) said Wednesday.

During a Senate Committee on Agriculture hearing, SINAG executive director Jayson Cainglet said around 50% of fishers in Cavite, Bataan, Zambales, and Pangasinan have halted fishing operations following the latest round of oil price hikes on April 7.

“Last week, before the third major increase, about 30% had already stopped fishing. This week, after Tuesday’s hike, it rose to nearly 50%,” Cainglet told lawmakers.

He said the impact has yet to be fully felt by consumers, as commercial fishers are still helping supply the market.

For those who continue to fish, Cainglet said their catch has dropped to just 5 to 10 kilograms per trip since they can no longer afford to travel far.

Fuel costs, he added, have tripled and now account for about 80% of their production expenses.

Oil firms implemented another round of significant pump price increases on Tuesday, marking the 13th straight week of hikes for gasoline and the 15th for both diesel and kerosene, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it has begun distributing P3,000 fuel vouchers to more than 46,000 municipal fishers nationwide. It is also considering a P10-per-kilogram subsidy for commercial fishers’ catch.

However, Cainglet said the fuel subsidy is “too small” and noted that some fishers are struggling to meet the requirements to qualify.

“If assistance needs to be given through the intervention of the Senate and Congress, it should be provided immediately to those who can no longer go out to sea and whose catch is no longer being bought,” he said.

“We’re not counting weeks or months—we’re counting days. They will suffer if this continues without comprehensive and targeted support,” he added.—MCG, GMA News