Farmers and fisherfolk said they will need fuel subsidies if the government is to meet its agriculture production targets, noting that the higher cost of fuel is hindering their operations. In a statement on Tuesday, the agriculture organizations asked the government to roll back fuel prices and to subsidize their industries. “The cumulative increases in fuel prices have taken their toll on the marginalized sectors, who are still reeling from the economic impact of the pandemic and successive natural calamities. Specifically, the rural sectors are being pushed to bankruptcy and chronic poverty due to increases in production expenses following unabated oil price hikes,” Anakpawis Party-list President Ariel B. Casilao said.

Lucenio, M. C. (2022, February 16). Farmers, fisherfolk press gov't for fuel subsidy. Business World, p. S1/4.