Marcos Jr. asked: Avert fishing, canning industry shutdown

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines —  Government officials and fishing industry operators have sought the immediate intervention of President Marcos to prevent a possible halt in fishing operations and a shutdown of the canning industry due to rising fuel costs.

Rep. Rolando Macasaet of GSIS-SSS party-list said he raised the issue with Executive Secretary Ralph Recto and Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, a cousin-in-law of the president and a fishing business operator in Luzon.

Macasaet said the alarm was raised after stakeholders in the commercial fishing, canning and tin can industries warned of a looming shutdown.

He said a shutdown could directly affect 30,000 workers and disrupt the country’s sardine supply, as he noted that 80 percent of production comes from here.

The large canning companies in Zamboanga, the country’s sardine capital, produce about 1.2 billion cans of sardines annually for nationwide distribution.

According to Macasaet, the fishing industry operators noted that fuel accounts for 70 percent of a fleet’s operating cost.

With diesel prices increasing by as much as 40 percent, the operators have said that continuing their operations would be unsustainable, he added.

“The problem is the cost of diesel for fishing fleet operations, which is 70 percent of total expenses. With fuel prices rising by nearly 40 percent or more, it is difficult to operate without incurring losses,” Macasaet told Radyo Sincero on Saturday.

He added that he was alarmed after hearing Southern Philippine Fishing Association president Julius Daniel describing the industry situation and the job losses it would potentially create.

“I had goosebumps upon learning from them and knowing how it would impact thousands of workers and millions of Filipinos,” Macasaet said, as he warned of the impact on food security.

He noted that canned sardines is a staple during crisis situations.

Mayor Khymer Olaso has written to Marcos, appealing for intervention, including a reduction in excise taxes on fuel used by commercial fishing operators and access to cheaper fuel from neighboring countries such as Malaysia.

Macasaet said he reached out directly to Recto on Thursday and also consulted Tiangco, citing the latter’s experience in the fishing industry. Recto has reportedly assured him of a meeting with Marcos to discuss possible measures to prevent the shutdown.