Fuel hike worsens Zambales fishing woes
SAN ANTONIO, ZAMBALES—Fisherfolk sailing to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) are worried that rising fuel prices will further strain their livelihood, adding to the pressure they already face from the presence of the China Coast Guard (CCG) in the area.
Ryan Jacinto, 43, a fisherman from Subic who regularly travels to the WPS, said higher fuel costs and longer travel distances are making it harder to sustain their fishing operations.
“That’s a huge problem for us because our expenses will almost double. What will we do now?” Jacinto told the Inquirer.
Jacinto, boat skipper of Prince LJ, plans to return to the WPS this week with 11 other fishermen.
He said they usually bring at least 1,500 liters of diesel each trip to support two weeks of fishing.
Consumption
Previously, they spent around P134,000 for fuel, food and other provisions, but with rising diesel prices, they now expect expenses to reach at least P200,000.
Ernie Aduana, 38, another Subic fisherman, left for the WPS last week as part of the 15-member crew of the fishing boat FB Kian.
The vessel consumes at least 1,000 liters of diesel per trip, a number that can increase if they are forced to sail farther or stay longer at sea.
“The problem is that our diesel consumption increases because of the CCG. Instead of our route becoming shorter, it gets longer because we are being driven away, especially now that diesel prices have increased,” Aduana explained.
Fishermen in Zambales have long reported harassment while fishing in the WPS, often being chased from traditional fishing grounds by CCG vessels.
Encounters include warnings via loudspeakers, blocked access to fishing areas and being shadowed by larger vessels, forcing fishermen to sail farther and incur higher fuel costs.
‘Domino effect’
The situation has affected the livelihood of small-scale fishermen who rely on daily catches to support their families.
Even after the Philippines won a landmark arbitration case in 2016 that invalidated China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea, Filipino fishermen continue to report intimidation and restricted access to some WPS fishing areas.
Ronnel Arambulo, vice chair of the fisherfolk group Pamalakaya, said the staggered oil price hikes further erode fishermen’s already limited income.
“It will certainly trigger a domino effect to the fisheries production, fish supply, market prices and ultimately to food security,” Arambulo said.
Pamalakaya renewed its call to remove the excise tax on petroleum products and repeal the oil deregulation law, which it says allows oil companies to manipulate local pump prices.
