Fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) joined other progressive groups in seeking a “family living wage” amid rising rising costs of basic commodities in the Philippines.
“We will benefit from the increase in workers’ wages because their ability to buy our fish product will also increase,” said Pamalakaya National Spokesperson Ronnel Arambulo in Filipino on Sunday, Nov. 27.
“Kasabay ng pagtaas ng purchasing power ng mga manggagawa ay ang pagtaas ng demand sa pamilihan pati na rin ang farm gate price ng mga produktong agrikultural tulad ng isda (Along with the increase in the purchasing power of workers is the increase in the market demand as well as farm gate price of agricultural products such as fish),” Arambulo added.
Aside from the demand for wage increase, Pamalakaya likewise renewed its call for the provision of a P15,000 production subsidy to the marginalized sectors. This amount, according to the fishers’ group, will cover at least two-month fuel expenses of small-scale fishermen.