Fisherfolk members of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) staged a coastal protest at Manila Bay on Tuesday, February 17, calling for urgent government action amid a series of oil price hikes.

“Sadyang hindi na maawat ang pagsirit ng presyo ng langis. Malaki na ang epekto nito sa mga mangingisda na napipilitan nang magbawas ng oras sa laot dahil sa mahal ng krudo at gasolina," said Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson.

"Samantala, walang sapat na subsidyong ipinamamahagi ang pamahalaan para maibsan ang epekto ng taas-presyo sa aming kabuhayan,” he added.

The fishers’ group criticized the Marcos administration, claiming it has failed to implement “substantial measures” to mitigate the effects of the cumulative oil price hikes on vulnerable sectors.

The group also accused oil companies of engaging in “profiteering and price manipulation.”

PAMALAKAYA is demanding actionable steps to stabilize fuel costs, including the suspension of excise taxes on petroleum products, the reversal of the deregulation of the oil industry through the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law, and the immediate provision of adequate production subsidies to affected sectors, particularly fishers and farmers.