Rising fuel prices affecting fishermen; Sarangani folk air concerns

Several small fisherfolk in Alabel, Sarangani have expressed concern over the rising price of gasoline, which is affecting their fishing operations and livelihood.

A fisherman, Vicente Elorde, said the income from his catch is not enough to cover the eight liters of gasoline he used during the fishing trip on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, which he bought at around P70 per liter.

“Apektado gayud, mahal na kaau unya ang isda pwerting nihita. Unya ang among kuha igo ra gasolina ni,” Elorde said.

(It's really affected us, fish prices have been affected. And the price of what we catch is just enough for gasoline.)

Fisherfolk said they may be forced to increase the price of fish to recover their expenses as the increase in fuel prices has significantly affected their livelihood.

According to the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist, the sudden increase in fuel prices was triggered by tensions in the Middle East, which caught the government unprepared.

However, the office said measures are now in place, including a pricing strategy to help fishermen avoid losses.

The office added that fisherfolk may unload their catch at the fish landing center where authorities gather data on fish volume and assist them in terms of pricing strategy to ensure that fishermen and public market vendors will not incur losses.

“Pwede nila i-unload dinhi sa fish landing center ug ginakuhaan natu na og data kung unsay volume ug ma-assisst natu in terms sa pricing strategy nga  dili sila malugi ug katung mga public market fish vendor natu nagapalit sa ilaha mamonitor nato closely ang buying price,” Office of the Municipal Agriculturist Head, Giselle Gestupa, said.

(They can unload here at the fish landing center and we are already collecting data on the volume and we can assist in terms of pricing strategy so that they don't lose money and as public market fish vendors, we can closely monitor the buying price.)

Licensed fisherfolk affected are also expected to receive fuel subsidies.

“Aside sa intervention sa DA through the BFAR, nga adunay fuel subsidy through voucher, nagaplano pud ang LGU nga katung active licensed banca operator nga tagaan pud sila og additional fuel subsidy,” Gestupa added.

(Aside from the intervention of the Department of Agriculture through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, which has fuel subsidy through vouchers, the local government is also planning to provide additional fuel subsidy to active licensed banca operators.)

Meanwhile, aside from rising fuel prices, fisherfolk also raised concerns over plans to relocate them from their usual fish landing area, as a seawall and cottages related to the local government’s ecotourism project are currently being built in the area.

Fisherfolk may be transferred to another location, which they fear could affect their fishing activities.

“Ang gusto namu sir stable ug dili nami mabalhin ug dili na pud mi mabutang og alanganin, gusto namu steady nga butanganan  kana mao ang ginapangayo namu,” Ladol Fishermen and Neighborhood Association President, Nelanie Sison, said.

(What we want is something stable, sir. and we can't move it and we can't be affected anymore, we want it to be steady, that's what we're asking for.) —Efren Yunting Mamac, GMA Regional TV News