Fisherman Charlie Valencia appeals to government for help amid surging oil prices. Photo by Ernie Esconde
ABUCAY, Bataan — Fisherfolk here on Monday asked assistance from the government, complaining of the uncontrolled oil price hike that doubled their fuel expenses which they said gravely affected their livelihood.
Charlie Valencia said that from the P500-worth of gasoline they consumed per night of fishing, they now spend P1,000.
Valencia and most of the fishermen in Barangay Wawa, use bancas powered by gasoline-fed engines in fishing.
“Dapat matulungan ng gobyerno ang maliliit kasi kami, ang walang kakayahan, ang naaapektuhan. Kung ano ang patakaran ng gobyerno, sinusunod namin,” the 43-year-old fisherman said.
Valencia said that he has not received any fuel subsidy from government. To recover from the big fuel expenses, he said that they are forced to increase the price of their fish catch.
Aside from the land-locked town of Dinalupihan, all 10 towns and one city in Bataan have fishing grounds with fishermen adversely affected by the oil price hike.
