Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan renewed his call for stronger government support for farmers and fisherfolk amid rising global tensions in the Middle East that caused massive fuel price hikes, calling for increased subsidies and the suspension of the excise tax on petroleum products.
The senator, who filed a bill to give the President emergency powers to suspend fuel excise tax during global emergencies, explained that suspending excise taxes on petroleum products will lead to a P6-per-liter savings on diesel and P10-per liter of unleaded gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and P5-per liter on kerosene.
He also lamented that the planned P3,000 cash assistance for fisherfolk sourced from the P75-million surplus of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ (DA-BFAR) 2025 budget is not enough.
“Masyadong mababa. Hindi ito angkop sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon. Kaya isa sa mga nabanggit natin ay kinakailangan i-adjust itong halaga na ito at dagdagan,” he said during a radio interview on Sunday, March 15.
”Well, at the very least siguro doble non pero yan eh kulang pa rin. Kaya nga apart from yung cash assistance na dodoblehin to about P6,000 or P7,000 ay dapat din pababain yung excise tax sa krudo para mabawasan pa ng hanggang P6 kada litro. Yan yung dalawang maaaring immediate na maisagawa,” he added.
Pangilinan explained that additional cash assistance or subsidy to farmers and fisherfolk may be sourced from the P10-billion Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk under the 2026 budget.
He called anew on the DA-BFAR to issue the implementing guidelines for the immediate use and release of the said fund.
“Dapat ngayon na ilabas yung guidelines para mapakinabangan na at ma-release na itong farmers and fisherfolks assistance,” he stressed.
The senator and chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform cited reports from fishers who have since reduced their schedule to every two days instead of fishing daily.
This, he added, would lead to an insufficient supply of fish products, which could drive up seafood prices.
Pangilinan has earlier warned that the escalating conflict in the Middle East could trigger significant increases in fuel costs, which would severely impact the agriculture and fisheries sectors.
The senator said that farmers and fisherfolk—who already face rising production expenses—are among the most vulnerable to fuel price spikes.
Fuel accounts for 80% of the total production cost of agricultural products.