CITY OF SAN FERNANDO Some 637 fishers in Macabebe and 355 in Masantol towns on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, received P3,000 worth of fuel discount cards from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to mitigate the effects of rising oil prices and help them in their livelihood.
With this, a total of 2,000 fisherfolk in Pampanga have benefited from the fuel subsidy program of the government since it was launched in Central Luzon last March.
BFAR Central Luzon Director Wilfredo Cruz, in an interview, said that the P3,000 discount is a big help to the fishers in their livelihood, especially that diesel and fuel prices remain high.
“Malaking maitutulong nito sa ating mga mangingisda dahil worth P3,000 discount ito. So, kapag sila ay papalaot, malaking bagay ito para sa kanila lalo na ngayong mahal ang diesel at gasoline," he said.
Based on BFAR record, 4,763 out of the 6,702 target fisher beneficiaries in the region have received the fuel discount cards.
Qualified to receive the fuel subsidy are individuals, cooperatives, and associations registered under the FishR, have motorized boats with a capacity of three gross tons or below, and must be registered under the boat registration program or BoatR. (With Princess Clea Arcellaz)