TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Over 900 municipal fishers in Biliran province have received direct fuel assistance from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to help cushion the impact of the ongoing global energy crisis.
The distribution, part of the Fuel Discount Program for Farmers and Fisherfolk (FDPFF) caravan, took place on Monday and Tuesday, March 30-31, 2026, at the Provincial Fisheries Office in Naval. Beneficiaries from the municipalities of Almeria, Biliran, Cabucgayan, Caibiran, Culaba, Kawayan, Maripipi, and Naval each received a fuel discount card loaded with ₱3,000.
Small-scale fishing operations have been hit particularly hard by the instability in petroleum prices. In the Philippines, where diesel and gasoline prices have reached record highs due to Middle East tensions, fuel costs can account for up to 80 percent of a small fisher’s operating expenses.
“This is a big help for us, especially now that gasoline is expensive,” said Jany Tequillo, president of the Baso Fisherfolk Association. “It supports our daily livelihood, and we are truly thankful for such significant assistance.”
BFAR Region 8 announced that the Biliran caravan is part of a larger regional effort. Key statistics from the program include:
- 7,000+ cards already distributed across Eastern Visayas.
- 14,872 cards targeted for distribution under the current third tranche of the program.
- ₱44.6 Million in total targeted subsidies for the region’s fisheries sector.
The distribution comes as the national government continues to declare a “state of national energy emergency.” With pump prices for diesel hovering around ₱140 per liter in some areas, the ₱3,000 subsidy is designed to allow fishers to continue their trips without immediately passing the costs onto consumers in the form of higher fish prices.
Local officials noted that the subsidy helps ensure food security by keeping small vessels in the water, even when catches are uncertain. BFAR plans to continue the caravan in other provinces across the Visayas to reach the remaining registered beneficiaries before the end of the month.