More than 140 fisherfolk in Bulacan received fuel subsidy cards Wednesday to help offset the rising cost of gasoline and maintain their daily livelihoods.
The distribution, held at the Provincial Agriculture Office in Malolos, provided 144 beneficiaries with cards loaded with P3,000 each. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 3 (BFAR3) facilitated the rollout through the Universal Storefront Services Corporation.
According to BFAR, the program is specifically designed to alleviate the financial burden on small-scale fishers caused by fluctuating petrol prices.
To qualify for the assistance, fishers must be registered under the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) FishR and RSBSA systems. Additionally, they must own municipal motorized fishing boats officially registered under the BoatR system.
Data validation was handled by the BFAR-Fisheries Information Management Center to ensure orderly processing.
“This is part of our agency’s effort to support small-scale fisherfolk who are heavily affected by rising expenses,” Provincial Fisheries officer Joseph Bitara said in Filipino.
Dominador De Ocampo, a fisherman from Obando, said the subsidy provides more than just financial relief.
“The government’s help is a great blessing,” De Ocampo said. “Before, we couldn’t go out to sea if we didn’t have money for gasoline. Now, our expenses are lighter, our families’ needs are met, and we have hope in our fishing.”
The event was led by Provincial Agriculturist Ma. Gloria SF. Carrillo, with support from local agriculturists representing the towns of Calumpit, Bulakan, Hagonoy, Obando, Paombong, Malolos and Meycauayan.
Officials cited that this distribution is part of a broader regional effort. A separate phase under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk Program aims to reach 17,300 beneficiaries across the region this year.