Around 20k Ilocos fisherfolk to receive fuel subsidy amid Middle East conflict
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan — Around 20,000 fisherfolk in the Ilocos Region are expected to receive fuel subsidies as rising fuel prices linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continue to affect the fishing sector.
Martin Allayban, officer in charge of the training division of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 1, said the beneficiaries are fisherfolk registered under the Municipal Fishing Vessels and Gears Registration (BoatR) program as of February this year.
He added that about 2,000 additional registrations submitted by local government units are currently undergoing verification by BFAR.
Allayban noted that the registration process under the BoatR program remains ongoing, encouraging more fisherfolk to enlist to gain access to government assistance.
BoatR is a national initiative aimed at completing the registration of municipal fishing vessels with a capacity of three gross tons and below, along with their fishing gear. The program is implemented in accordance with Executive Order No. 305, series of 2004, and the Philippine Fisheries Code.
Last year, around 80 percent of the fisherfolk registered under BoatR in the region received fuel subsidies worth PHP3,000 through their beneficiary cards. The remaining registered fishers are expected to receive their subsidies soon.
A “top-up” mechanism has also been introduced, allowing eligible fisherfolk to receive an additional subsidy this year.
Earlier, the Department of Budget and Management approved PHP150 million for the government’s fuel subsidy program for the agriculture sector. Of this amount, PHP100 million has already been released to the Department of Agriculture for distribution.
The fund allocation includes PHP50 million for farmers and another PHP50 million for fisherfolk to help ease the impact of rising fuel costs on their livelihoods.
