500 fishermen in Subic get fuel subsidy amid oil price hikes

Fishermen in Subic town, Zambales province receive their fuel subsidy cash cards during the launch on March 21 of the program at Bulungan fish port. | PHOTO: of BFAR Region 3

SUBIC, Zambales––At least 500 fishermen from this province received Monday cash cards containing P3,000 worth of fuel discounts, as the Department of Agriculture (DA) launched its fuel subsidy program in Central Luzon.

In a statement, the regional office of DA’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said the discount cards were distributed at the Bulungan fish port in this town.

The 500 fishermen were the initial recipients of the program’s first tranche, which would help them cope with the soaring prices of petroleum products.

A total of 6,709 fisherfolk in the region will receive the fuel discounts for the program’s first tranche targeted for completion by April.

Wilfredo Cruz, BFAR director in Central Luzon, said about 113,000 registered municipal fishermen were affected by the current oil crisis.

The DA has allocated P500 million in fuel subsidies to fishers and farmers as a contingency to ease the oil price hike impact amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar also announced recently that another P600-million subsidy for fuel would be available next month for the program’s second tranche.

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