MANILA, Philippines – Reelectionist senator Grace Poe said Wednesday, April 3, that fishermen should also be part of government’s fuel subsidy program or Pantawid Pasada.

In Nueva Ecija, Poe said that fishermen use fuel for their motorboats, like drivers for their jeepneys. 

“Kung mayroon tayong Pantawid Pasada program para sa mga jeep, baka naman pwedeng Pantawid Pambangka Program ng mga mangingisda. Bigyan sila ng subisidiya para sa gasolina nila, kasi mahal na rin ‘yon,” Poe said.

(If there is a Pantawid Pasada program for [jeepney drivers], then maybe we should also have a Pantawid Pambangka Program for fishemen. Let’s give them subsidy for their gasoline, because that’s also expensive.)

Under the TRAIN law, excise tax on fuel will be increased from 2018 to 2020. But the law also states that tax increases may be suspended if Dubai crude oil prices average at $80 per barrel for 3 straight months. (READ: EXPLAINER: How the tax reform law affects Filipino consumers)

The increase in 2019 brought the total excise tax on gasoline from P7 to P9 per liter, and on diesel from P2.50 to P4.50 per liter. It would also be hiked by another P1.50 per liter in 2020.

As a mitigating measure, the government launched the Pantawid Pasada program to give jeepney drivers P5,000 in fuel subsidy because of the hike. 

In 2019, once the national budget is passed, the subsidy will be hiked to P20,515. – Rappler.com