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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Soaring diesel costs force Cavite fishers to stop going to sea—Pamalakaya

Soaring diesel costs force Cavite fishers to stop going to sea—Pamalakaya

Published Mar 30, 2026 03:45 pm
(PHOTO: PAMALAKAYA)
(PHOTO: PAMALAKAYA)
Most small fishers in Cavite have stopped fishing as they can no longer afford the skyrocketing price of diesel, fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said on Monday, March 30.
Richard Catenza, the president of Pamalakaya-Cavite, said small fisherfolk in the province have been unable to sustain regular fishing for nearly a month, citing fuel costs that have surged by almost 120 percent in March, making it difficult to earn or recover expenses.
“Our fishing boats are docked for almost a month now because we can no longer afford the skyrocketing price of diesel,” he said in a statement.
“Some fisherfolk have temporarily left fishing and shift to same odd jobs including construction work,” he added.
According to Catenza, the government’s promised fuel subsidy remains out of reach for food security front-liners like them.
The fishers’ group said a small fisher in Manila Bay used to spend about P560 on diesel per fishing trip before the series of oil price hikes.
“Now that the diesel has reached P124 per liter all-time high, fisherfolk have to prepare P1, 240 for 10 liters of diesel, a 121% increase,” Pamalakaya said.
It can be recalled that Pamalakaya has been pushing for the removal of fuel taxes, which it said add about P20 per liter to petroleum prices.
As such, it sought the “immediate and adequate” distribution of P15,000 fuel subsidies to more than two million registered fisherfolk.
On March 29, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) warned of a looming food crisis as rising fuel prices push Filipino farmers and fisherfolk deeper into debt and drive up production costs.
It said ongoing tensions in the Middle East are triggering oil price shocks that continue to batter the country’s already fragile agricultural sector, stressing the need for immediate government intervention.

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Soaring diesel costs force Cavite fishers stop going to sea Pamalakaya Middle East KMP
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