Tulfo hits BFAR over subsidy, seeks aid for fisherfolk

MANILA, Philippines — To streamline the distribution of fuel subsidies for fisherfolk amid global oil price hikes, Sen. Raffy Tulfo has called on the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to simplify and speed up its current system and provide direct cash assistance to beneficiaries.

During a coordination meeting with BFAR assistant director for administrative resources Zaldy Perez, Tulfo questioned the agency’s current voucher/card distribution scheme, where fisherfolk are required to use the cards at partner fuel stations instead of receiving direct cash.

Like in other government aid programs such as 4Ps and Tupad, Tulfo said fuel subsidies for fisherfolk should be deposited directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries to provide immediate relief from rising fuel prices.

“The assistance should go directly to them – on time and in cash, without any unnecessary complications,” he said.

The senator also called for an increase in the current P3,000 fuel subsidy to P5,000 per beneficiary, aligning the support given to fisherfolk with the aid received by public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers.

Earlier, Tulfo appealed to the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for the prompt release of fuel subsidies for PUV drivers affected by global oil price hikes driven by tensions in the Middle East.

Confirming BFAR’s current practice, Perez claimed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) had removed the option to disburse the subsidy in cash.

DBM acting director for the Budget and Management Bureau Gemma Ilagan, however, refuted Perez’s statement.

Ilagan clarified that there is no DBM policy prohibiting direct cash disbursement and that the voucher-based system was based solely on BFAR’s internal guidelines.

Given the conflicting statements, Tulfo urged both BFAR and DBM to clarify their policies and collaborate on a plan to ensure the fuel subsidies are released directly without delays.

Around 200,000 fisherfolk operating motorized fishing boats registered under the Department of Agriculture’s Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture are eligible for the subsidy.