Groups seek subsidies, alternative energy as fisherfolk suffer soaring fuel costs

Fisherfolk communities and environmental advocates urged the national government to provide immediate fuel subsidy assistance and to adopt alternative energy sources for fisherfolk communities amidst rising fuel costs. 

“It is troubling to see our fisherfolk face the risk of being pushed further into poverty as the cost of fuel continues to rise. Fisherfolk carry the heavy burden of providing for their families while ensuring our country’s food supply does not run empty. We urge the national government to not turn a blind eye to the struggles of the fisherfolk sector and provide immediate and adequate subsidies to ease them of the burden of this crisis,” said Father Edwin Gariguez, lead convenor of Protect VIP.

Diesel prices are expected to spike more than P130 per liter while gasoline may go up past P100 a liter this week. Fisherfolk groups in Batangas say that on top of this fuel price surge, the sector has been confronting threats from destructive industries that cause a sharp decline in their fish catch. Batangas is among the five provinces of the biodiversity-rich Verde Island Passage (VIP), which is threatened by the proliferation of fossil fuel developments.

“Maliit na nga ang kinikita naming mga mangingisda, lalo pa ngayon na patuloy ang pagtaas ng presyo ng diesel. Halos wala na kaming kinikita dahil ‘pag kami ay lumalaot, kailangan talaga namin na pumalaot nang malayo na mas makonsumo sa diesel. Dagdag pa ang dalang huli ng isda, hindi katulad ng dati na sagana ang dagat,” said Benito De Castro, President of Bukluran ng Mangingisda sa Batangas (BMB).

(“We fisherfolk already earn very little, and now it’s even harder with the continuous increase in diesel prices. We hardly earn anything anymore because when we go out to sea, we really have to travel farther, which consumes more diesel. On top of that, our fish catch is already declining, not like before when the sea was abundant.”)

In a statement, BMB urged the government for financial assistance beyond the Php 3,000 allotted fuel subsidy by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. This comes as the Department of Agriculture warns that the retail prices of rice, pork, and chicken may increase by at least 50% within 180 days.

“Ang hiling namin ay sana mabigyan ng agarang suporta kaming mga mangingisda. Wala na nga kaming halos kinikita sa pangingisda, doble pasakit pa ang patuloy na pagtaas ng bilihin,” Castro added. “Hindi sapat ang Php 3,000 na subsidy sa isang taon, dahil kung tutuusin ay barya lang ‘yan – katumbas lang ng Php 8.00 kada araw o Php 250.00 kada buwan. Hindi ‘yan makakabuhay ng aming mga pamilya.”

(“Our appeal is for us fisherfolk to be given immediate support. We’re already earning almost nothing from fishing, and the continuous rise in prices only makes things worse. A Php 3,000 annual subsidy is not enough – in reality, it’s just loose change, equivalent to only Php 8 a day or Php 250 a month. That’s not enough to support our families.”)

On March 25, 2026, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national energy emergency in light of the ongoing Middle East conflict. Electricity rates are expected to spike starting April. Meanwhile, a report by the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED) revealed Mindoro’s huge potential for renewable energy of about 34 gigawatts from solar and wind alone, which is even more than the country’s current total energy capacity.

“The US-Israel war on Iran shows that our dependence on fossil fuel – and its expansion in biodiverse areas like the VIP – not only threatens vulnerable ecosystems but also compounds economic pressures due to its market volatility. Rather than turning the VIP into a fossil fuel hub, we challenge the government to fully explore its vast renewable energy potential and help coastal communities cope with this crisis by introducing sustainable energy alternatives,” said Gerry Arances, Executive Director of CEED.

“This Holy Week, we call on the government to embody compassion and prioritize those most affected by the crisis. Our fisherfolk communities must not be left to carry this burden alone. As this crisis is expected to persist in the coming weeks, urgent response is needed: adequate fuel and basic goods subsidies and the introduction of renewable energy sources for coastal communities,” Gariguez added.