This photo, taken on July 5, 2022, shows workers filling containers with a fishing boat鈥檚 catch at a port in Masinloc town, Zambales province, after an expedition in the South China Sea. (Photo by TED ALJIBE / Agence France-Presse)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� party list and the Makabayan bloc sought on Monday a P15,000 cash aid for some 1.1 million fisherfolk affected by the high cost of fuel and massive fish importation.
The groups also filed a proposed resolution urging the national government to uphold the interest and welfare of Filipino fisherfolk amid Beijing鈥檚 鈥渁ggressive reclamation and plunder鈥� in the West Philippine Sea.
Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas led Monday鈥檚 filing of the proposed measures along with ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro and Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Danniel Manuel.
House Bill No. 2024 seeks to provide P15,000 each as a production subsidy to small fishermen.
鈥淲e need to provide urgent relief to the 1.1 million Filipinos employed in the fisheries and aquaculture sector who are now battered by steep oil prices and the Department of Agriculture鈥檚 thrust of massive importation of fish,鈥� Brosas said.
She lamented that while the Philippines is surrounded by water, the fisherfolk who are among the country鈥檚 most vulnerable sectors have been neglected.
鈥淭hus, this bill pushes the P15,000 financial support to the country鈥檚 1 million front-line fisherfolk, contributing to the national food security amid the pandemic,鈥� the lawmakers said.
鈥擩EANNETTE I. ANDRADE
RELATED STORIES
Luzon fishers groan as fuel prices surge
Salt on open wound: More fish imports for PH as China blocks Filipino fishers