Arroyo to look into plight of fishing vessel operators in Mindanao
08/05/2008 | 07:34 PM
MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Tuesday ordered Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes to urge fishing vessel owners and operators in Mindanao to resume their operations to prevent possible adverse effects of their work stoppage in the supply of canned sardines.
Owners and operators of fishing vessels in Mindanao, where 80 percent of sardine canneries in the Philippines are located, have been on strike since Monday to protest the ever increasing prices of fuel.
The strike was led by Southern Philippines Deep Sea Fishing Association, which has about 15 members and four non-members that account for more or less 60 tons of fish per day, according to Press Secretary Jesus Dureza.
Dureza said a shortage in the supply of canned sardines could lead to an increase in its price, which would be another burden to poor families who are the usual consumer of sardines.
"Iyung sardines kasi natin, ito ang binibili ng mga masa, ng mga maliliit. May problema tayo yan ngayon, tumaas iyung price ng tin and magbabayad din ang masa. Pero hindi iyun ang pinakaproblema, ang problema ngayon dahil iyung mga barko na nangingisda para makukuha iyung mga dadalhin dun sa canneries na gawing sardinas, beginning Monday hindi na lumayag," he said.
(“Canned sardines are the common food of the poor. We already have a problem there. The price of tin has gone up and it will surely affect the price and the public. But that’s not all. The problem now involves fishing vessels. Since Monday owners have stopped their operations.”)
Secretary to the Cabinet Silvestre Bello III said the shipping companies are asking for a fuel subsidy of about P5 per liter to help offset the high prices of oil which they use to keep their vessels running.
Bello said the President ordered Reyes to talked to the shipping owners and operators and discuss among others the possible subsidy.
Presidential Management Staff Director General Cerge Remonde said another possible discussion in the dialogues is how the government could help the canneries in light of the increasing prices of tin.
Dureza said the Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco) is setting up the meeting that would focus on a possible provision of a subsidy to provide short term relief, and a long term solution such as the provision of loan or the conversion of their "diesel engine" vessels into a compressed natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas enabled engines.
He said the proposed subsidy could be sourced from the windfall collection of value added tax particularly in the expected incremental earnings in the third quarter.
Dureza said aside from the proposed subsidy for the sardines sector, a similar subsidy for fisherfolk affected by Typhoon “Frank” and the sinking of MV Princess of the Stars is also being taken into consideration by the government. - GMANews.TV
Owners and operators of fishing vessels in Mindanao, where 80 percent of sardine canneries in the Philippines are located, have been on strike since Monday to protest the ever increasing prices of fuel.
The strike was led by Southern Philippines Deep Sea Fishing Association, which has about 15 members and four non-members that account for more or less 60 tons of fish per day, according to Press Secretary Jesus Dureza.
Dureza said a shortage in the supply of canned sardines could lead to an increase in its price, which would be another burden to poor families who are the usual consumer of sardines.
"Iyung sardines kasi natin, ito ang binibili ng mga masa, ng mga maliliit. May problema tayo yan ngayon, tumaas iyung price ng tin and magbabayad din ang masa. Pero hindi iyun ang pinakaproblema, ang problema ngayon dahil iyung mga barko na nangingisda para makukuha iyung mga dadalhin dun sa canneries na gawing sardinas, beginning Monday hindi na lumayag," he said.
(“Canned sardines are the common food of the poor. We already have a problem there. The price of tin has gone up and it will surely affect the price and the public. But that’s not all. The problem now involves fishing vessels. Since Monday owners have stopped their operations.”)
Secretary to the Cabinet Silvestre Bello III said the shipping companies are asking for a fuel subsidy of about P5 per liter to help offset the high prices of oil which they use to keep their vessels running.
Bello said the President ordered Reyes to talked to the shipping owners and operators and discuss among others the possible subsidy.
Presidential Management Staff Director General Cerge Remonde said another possible discussion in the dialogues is how the government could help the canneries in light of the increasing prices of tin.
Dureza said the Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco) is setting up the meeting that would focus on a possible provision of a subsidy to provide short term relief, and a long term solution such as the provision of loan or the conversion of their "diesel engine" vessels into a compressed natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas enabled engines.
He said the proposed subsidy could be sourced from the windfall collection of value added tax particularly in the expected incremental earnings in the third quarter.
Dureza said aside from the proposed subsidy for the sardines sector, a similar subsidy for fisherfolk affected by Typhoon “Frank” and the sinking of MV Princess of the Stars is also being taken into consideration by the government. - GMANews.TV
