FISHERIES production in the fourth quarter is expected to suffer due to high fuel prices, which prevented many fisherfolk from heading out to sea, an association of small fishermen said.
The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) said in a statement on Tuesday that its members are also taking on other jobs because of their inability to operate their boats.
It cited “ever-rising production costs, in which 80% goes to fuel expenses alone.”
Oil companies implemented price hikes on Tuesday, with the price of gasoline raised by P0.80 per liter, diesel P2.70, and kerosene P2.90.
The group asked the government to address inflation via price controls, a freeze on the excise tax on fuel products, and fuel subsidies to the marginalized.
“As the Agriculture Secretary, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has a lot of responsibility (for) the continued decline of agricultural and fishery production due to neglect (in addressing) the rising price of fuel and other commodities,” PAMALAKAYA spokesman Ronnel S. Arambulo said.
The Philippine Statistics Authority estimates that fisheries output dropped 3.4% to 4.25 million metric tons in 2021. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave