Agriculture groups are asking the government to step in and reduce the impact of rising fuel prices on farmers and fisherfolk, warning that the situation could threaten food production and raise food prices.
The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) urged Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to direct the Department of Energy to investigate gasoline stations reportedly refusing to sell diesel and gasoline to farmers who bring their own containers.
SINAG said farmers and fisherfolk in several provinces have complained that some stations have not sold them fuel for the past four days. The group stressed that fuel is essential for agricultural work, as diesel powers tractors, irrigation pumps, harvesters, fishing boats, and trucks that transport produce.
According to SINAG chair Rosendo So, denying farmers and fisherfolk access to fuel disrupts farming and fishing activities, especially at the start of the planting season.
The group warned that higher fuel costs also increase production expenses. In the fisheries sector, fuel can make up as much as 80 percent of operating costs for small-scale fishers.
The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) also called for a rollback in oil prices. Its national chairperson, Fernando Hicap, said removing the P15 per liter excise tax on fuel could help small fishers save about P150 per trip.
Lawmakers in the Senate and the House of Representatives have proposed granting emergency powers to the President to allow the suspension of fuel excise taxes.
Earlier, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said diesel prices could reach P96.76 per liter if global oil prices rise to $140 per barrel due to a prolonged conflict in the Middle East. If fuel excise taxes are suspended, diesel could drop to around P90.04 per liter.
For this week, fuel companies are raising prices significantly, with gasoline increasing by P7 to P13 per liter, diesel by P17.50 to P24.25, and kerosene by P33 to P38.50 per liter, though increases are being implemented in stages by different companies.
