By Franz R. Sumangil, Manila Times
A GROUP of 300 fisherfolk in General Santos City has appealed to the government to help them through subsidies amid increases in oil prices.
Ruel Libawan, a member of the Minanga Buayan Fishermen Association, on Monday said his expenses for fuel had increased from P500 a day to P700.
"We went fishing early Monday morning on our motorized bancas but returned with only a small catch. It could not even pay for our gasoline expenses," Libawan noted.
Another member, Guillermo Libawan, said his gasoline expenses for a day were usually an average of P500 but now would amount to P1,000.
"We have no catch yet as we are afraid to go far into the sea as we might run out of gasoline. We hope the government can help us," Libawan added.
He said he has not yet heard of any government subsidy that could help them.
Dominic Salazar, president of the Soccsksargen Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries Inc. (SFFAII), called for the incoming Marcos administration to suspend the implementation of value-added tax and excise tax.
Salazar said fishing companies and other local fisherfolk have been suffering from spikes in operation costs as a result of continuing increases in oil prices.
He said the SFFAII has been meeting with the city government and other national agencies for possible remedies.
PH petroleum group backs government-run crude oil reserve
Salazar, also the president of the tuna fishing group South Cotabato Purse-Seiners Association, also said they might be able to sustain operations if the value-added and excise taxes are temporarily suspended.
During the 20th National Tuna Congress in 2018 hosted by the SFFAII, industry players passed a resolution urging the Office of the President to revisit the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion Law.
In particular, they called for removal of the "excise tax on petroleum products that are directly used by the masses, otherwise, exempt such products from being subjected to excise tax, provided the same [products] are used for fishing and fishery activities."
