Rising fuel costs are squeezing small-scale fishers as oil price hikes push production expenses higher, the fisherfolk group Pamalakaya said Friday, Jan. 23.
Fuel now accounts for about 80 percent of total fishing costs, forcing fishers to spend less time at sea and accept lower earnings.
Pamalakaya called on the Department of Agriculture to immediately implement its Fuel Assistance Program to help affected municipal fishers.
The group also renewed its call to repeal the Oil Deregulation Law, which it said allows oil companies to overprice fuel.
This week alone, diesel prices rose by P2 per liter and gasoline by P1 per liter, marking the fourth consecutive oil price hike this year.
Source: PhilNews24 | January 24, 2026
