MANILA: Some fisherfolk from Manila Bay and Laguna de Bay skipped their usual trips out to sea on Friday (March 27), choosing instead to join a nationwide transport strike as surging fuel prices continue to hit their livelihoods.
The action, organized alongside transport groups protesting rising oil costs, shows how the impact has extended beyond drivers and operators to small fishers who rely heavily on fuel to earn a day’s catch.
“We chose not to go out to sea today to join the widespread protest against the unreasonable increase in oil prices. For fisherfolk, the cost of diesel and gasoline has already risen by more than 100%. This means a further decline in our earnings at sea,” said Ronnel Arambulo, vice chairperson of Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya).
Pamalakaya said fuel, a core expense for the fishing industry, has surged in recent weeks.
Before the string of oil price hikes, a small fisher in Manila Bay typically spent around P560 on diesel per trip. Now, with diesel prices hitting an all-time high of P124 per litre, fishermen need P1,240 for just 10 litres — a 121% increase, according to the group.
These sustained increases, driven largely by global supply disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East, have kept fuel costs elevated nationwide.
For fisherfolk, however, even small price movements translate directly into lost income.
Beyond fuel, fisherfolk said they are also struggling with stagnant — or even declining — prices for their catch.
“Our production costs have skyrocketed, while the price of the fish we catch remains depressed due to traders underpricing our goods. Traders usually justify this by citing their own rising transport costs, which is why they buy our fish at very low prices,” Arambulo said.
This combined pressure — rising production costs and suppressed selling prices — has deepened financial strain across fishing communities.
Earlier, Pamalakaya reported that small-scale fisherfolk in Zambales have been forced to stay longer at sea to offset rising fuel costs, even as they face mounting risks in the contested West Philippine Sea.
The group said a 30-litre container of gasoline now costs P2,850, up from P1,650 — a 60% increase following successive oil price hikes. To cope, fisherfolk are loading up to 8 gallons of gasoline for week-long fishing trips, prolonging their time at sea despite persistent dangers, including foreign incursions into contested waters.
The fisherfolk’s participation comes amid a two-day nationwide transport strike from March 26-27, led by a coalition of more than 20 transport groups demanding government action on rising fuel prices.
The protests have drawn support from various sectors, including labor groups, farmers and urban poor communities, reflecting what organizers describe as a “shared crisis” affecting multiple industries.
Transport leaders have warned that incomes have sharply declined due to fuel hikes, with some jeepney drivers now earning as little as P200 to P300 a day, down from previous levels of P500 to P700.
Pamalakaya also reiterated its criticism of the government’s response to the oil price surge, calling current measures insufficient.
“Despite the many proposals from various sectors on how to ease the impact of rising oil prices, President Marcos has not considered any of them and has instead stuck to ineffective and temporary solutions. Even the distribution of aid is insufficient and extremely slow,” Arambulo said.
The group added that the declaration of a national energy emergency has had little tangible impact on struggling sectors.
“We will continue to take part in and launch protests to push for reasonable solutions amid the crisis,” he said.
According to the group, government fuel subsidies — pegged at P3,000 for fishers — cover only a few days of operations at current price levels.
“Fuel costs for fisherfolk have increased by 60% for every fishing trip. How far can a P3,000 fuel subsidy really go? It won’t even last three days, while fishers shoulder rising production costs every single day,” said Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya national chairperson.
Pamalakaya earlier said that of more than 2 million registered fisherfolk, only about 15,000 were initially expected to benefit from the aid, further fueling criticism of its limited reach.
With fuel prices still volatile and no immediate relief in sight, fisherfolk said they are left with few options — either absorb the losses, borrow more money or, as seen this week, bring their grievances to the streets. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
