The average income of a small fisherfolk who regularly consumes diesel plunged following the series of oil price hikes, a fisherfolk group said Sunday, Oct. 24.

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said a small fisherfolk now only earns about P120 per fishing trip from previous P300 prior to the series of oil price hikes.

The fishers’ group said the prices of gasoline and diesel have accumulatively increased by P19.70 per liter and P18 per liter, respectively, since the start of the year.

Likewise, the group lamented that the production cosy for small fisherfolk have also swelled to P180 per fishing operation, or a total of P720 additional fuel cost for a week of four fishing trips.

“Sa loob ng isang linggo, P480 o katumbas ng P120 kada araw na lamang ang kinikita ng isang maliit na mangingisda dahil sa tuluy-tuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis (In a week, a small fisherman earns only P480 or equivalent to P120 per day due to the continuous increase in oil prices),” Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya national chairperson, said in a statement.

“Abot langit ang pagsirit ng gastos namin sa produksyon habang ang kita ay patuloy ang pagdausdos (Our production costs are skyrocketing as revenue continues to slide),” he added.

Pamalakaya earlier lamented that the “unbridled fuel price increase has pushed the fishers to downsize their fishing operations because they can’t afford the additional fuel cost.”

“The fishers are groaning in pain from their loss of income from high production expenses per fishing operation,” Hicap said.

The group slammed the Duterte administration for failing to compel oil firms to bring down the fuel prices, amid the calls to impose a price control on petroleum products.

“We are one with the many sectors in calling for immediate price control of petroleum products and safeguard the public interest from these profiteering oil companies,” Hicap said.