The fishing industry is not exempt from the sectors affected greatly by the successive, sharp increases in the prices of fuel.

And the blow is felt closest by small-time fishermen who rely on fishing to feed families day after day.

In Talisay City, Cebu, fishermen said their daily income no longer enables them to buy fuel enough for their boats to reach their usual destination - that part of the sea near the neighboring island of Bohol.

There, their catch has been often abundant.

With this situation, Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas spoke with Mayor Cesar Suan of the Municipality of Cordova, which is located in Mactan Island in Cebu.

He requested that 68 fishermen from seven coastal barangays in Talisay be allowed to fish in Cordova.

Fortunately, Suan agreed.

“Ang kasabutan nila is ang mga fisherfok sa Talisay can now register didto sa Cordova para allowed sila nga mangisda didto,” Gullas said.

This, however, comes with a condition - that the fishermen from Talisay should not engage in illegal fishing and that they police their own ranks.

Gullas said Cordova can always cancel the permission if it finds that fishermen from Talisay engage in illegal fishing.

“We’ve been given a privilege… importante nga kitang tanan… naa sad tay trabaho ug responsibilidad nga mubantay sa atong mga kauban nga dili lang sad mo-illegal fishing sa Cordova,” Gullas said.

As of this writing, with new increases underway, the price of diesel may reach P134.30 per liter while the price of gasoline may reach P112.40 per liter.