Malacañang: Fuel subsidy for farmers, fishers not yet sure

FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija — Malacañang on Wednesday said the fuel subsidy for fishermen and farmers is still being studied due to limited government funds. This is contrary to the statement of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala Tuesday that fisherfolks and farmers using fuel products are included in the Pantawid Pasada program. In an interview here, Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang said the government still has to see where it would get the funds since the P450 million initially allocated for the program is for tricycle and jeepney drivers and operators. "Pinag-aaralan pa natin yan kasi limitado ang pondo natin at kung i-spread out ito ay hindi rin maramdaman ng iba," Carandang said. He admitted, however, that the list of fishermen and farmers who could be included in the possible beneficiaries have been submitted to the Energy Department. "Tignan natin kung may pondo tayo. Pinag-aaralan kung pwede silang isama pero hindi pa po sigurado yan," he said. Asked about the likelihood of fishermen and farmers being included in the program, Carandang said it will depend on a number of factors. "How much fuel they might need, how many are they, how much funds can we spare for them at marami pang factors na dapat pag-aralan bago sabihin na sigurado na masasama sila," he said. Beneficiaries At a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday, Alcala said he has already submitted to Energy Secretary Rene Almendras a list of the supposed beneficiaries although he could not give the exact number yet. "Nai-submit na namin sa office ni Secretary Almendaras yung listahan ng mga makina na nagko-consume ng petroleum products – fishing vessels, traktora, bomba sa patubig at yung mga binigyan ng food lane pass na bibigyan ng subsidy," he told reporters. (We’ve already submitted to Secretary Almendras’ office the list of machines that consume petroleum, like fishing vessels, tractors and pumps.) "Nung mag-announce na magbibigay ng subsidy hindi naman kami pumayag na iwanan namin yung mga magsasaka at mga mangingisda (We couldn’t allow farmers and fishermen to be left out in the subsidy)," Alcala said. The lists of beneficiaries were gathered from the records of the Philippine Coast Guard and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) while the lists of tractors and water irrigation pumps were collated from the registered traders and municipal agriculturists nationwide. — RSJ, GMA News