MARIVELES, Bataan — Fishermen from a village here on Thursday cried for government help, claiming that their income has greatly suffered and most often resulted in heavy losses due to the oil price hike.
Dalisay Cruz, president of the Sisiman Fishing Operators Association, said the oil price hike has greatly affected their livelihood and most often they incurred losses, saying the price of their fish catch remains the same while the price of diesel and gasoline continues to rise.
The organization from the village of Sisiman has for its members 43 fishing boats with 700 personnel.
“Wala kaming ibang hinihiling sa ating mga namumuno kundi sana bigyan naman ng pansin ang mangingisda. Bigyan din kami ng pagkakataon na sana magkaroon ng tamang presyo ang aming mga huli para hindi kami ganap na malugi,” Cruz asked.
“Kapag naging P150 kada litro ang diesel at gasolina, sinasabi ng aming financier na baka mahinto na kaming lahat. Ito ay malungkot na balita dahil maraming magugutom,” she continued.
Cruz asked government to heed the call of the fishermen. She asked that storage facilities be set up in their area. “Kung sakaling mura ang isda, meron kaming paglalagyan. Maglabas sana ng pondo ang pamahalaan para sa mga mangingisda. Pansinin ninyo naman kami.”
Fishing boat captain Herain Abobot, more known as Kap Bugoy, appeared exhausted when asked on the oil price effect. “Ai, grabeng saklap ang epekto sa amin niyan. Halos di makalaot dahil sa laki ng kunsumo. One third ang nawawala.”
“Sana naman matugunan yung mga hinihiling naming mangingisda na bumaba ang presyo ng langis dahil di na namin kaya. Paano na pamilya namin nito? No choice kami. Hihinto kami wala naman kaming ibang trabaho. Kahit mahal, napipilitan magstarting gawa ng kung may magbibigay na bossing. Kung wala na, stop,” Kap Bugoy said.
“Ang masama nga lang, nagtaasan lahat ng bilihin lalo na ang langis, ang aming produkto naman, wala naman pagbabago doon sa market,” the boat captain added.
Jhun Jhun Falogme, a fishing boat personnel, said the rise in oil prices reduced their income by 1/3. “Tumigil na yung giyera sana bumaba na din ang presyo ng diesel at langis. Halos P40 na lang ang kilo ng isda sa Manila. Kaming mga mangingisda dito sa Barangay Sisiman ay nananawagan na sana ay bumaba na ang presyo ng langis at diesel at gasolina.”
Julito Rota, another fishing boat captain, said that they used to spend P400,000 for diesel per fishing activity that lasts for two weeks but that it has increased to P900,000. “Wala nang kikitain doon. Makabenta kami ng P1 million eh, limang libo na lang ang parte namin doon.”
“Walang kita dahil sobrang mahal ng diesel. Panawagan namin, sana ibalik sa dati. Wala kaming balak maghinto maglaot, ito lamang ang hanapbuhay namin,” Rota said.
Some of the fishermen used to fish at portions of the West Philippines Sea, also claimed by China but have now shifted to Tubbataha in Palawan.
