MANILA, Philippines- Sinabi ng fishers group na bumababa ang kita ng mga mangingisda sa bansa dahil sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng produktong petrolyo.
Kinondena ng fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) ang kasalukuyang administrasyon sa “incompetence and negligence” nito sa gitna ng walang tigil na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis at epekto nito sa marginalized sectors, kabilang ang mga mangingisda.
“Diesel’s price rose by P14.40 per liter after the nine straight weeks of oil price increases from July 11 to September 8. This marks up the fuel expenses of small fisherfolk to P173, or an average of P833 per fishing trip, from P660 per fishing operation prior to the unabated oil price increases. The fishers’ group said that 80% of the entire fishing production cost still goes to fuel expenses alone,” anang grupo.
Inihayag ng Pamalakaya na patuloy ang pagbaba ng kita ng mga mangingisda na resulta ng pagsirit ng presyo ng petroleum products.
Napipilitan umano ang mga mangingisda na bawasan ang kanilang working hours sa dagat dahil hindi sapat ang kanilang langis upang paandarin ang mga bangka at mag-hanapbuhay.
“From the previous regular six to eight hours at the sea, we only spend four to five hours a day because we do not have enough fuel for our boats. Even our day working at the sea is shortened; from the previous five to six days, we now only have three to four days in a week. In addition to this, there are other expenses such as the maintenance of the boat and fishing gear, and food,” ani Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya chairperson.
“With such high production costs, the fishermen are left with no income, even buried in debt with high interest. With the average cost of P833 for crude oil, our catch is only equivalent to P300 to P500, more often our nets don’t have any catch,” patuloy niya.
Samantala, nanawagan din ang grupo sa pamahalaan na ipawalang-bisa ang Oil Deregulation Law, na anito ay nagbibigay ng kapangyarihan sa “oil companies to overprice and manipulate the local pump prices at the expense of consumers.” RNT/SA
