By Eva Visperas
The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) on Tuesday called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to immediately direct the Department of Energy (DOE) to investigate gasoline stations allegedly refusing to sell diesel and gasoline to farmers and fisherfolk who are bringing their own fuel containers.
According to SINAG, the group has received numerous complaints from small farmers and fisherfolk in several provinces who said some gasoline stations have refused to sell them fuel over the past four days. The situation, the group warned, is disrupting agricultural and fishing activities at the start of the planting season.
“Madadala ba ng mga magsasaka ang kanilang traktora, o irrigation pump o ang kanilang banca sa mga gasolinahan? Refusing to sell them fuel effectively cuts them off from production,” said SINAG chair Rosendo So.
So stressed that denying fuel access to food producers is unacceptable, noting that diesel is essential not only for transportation but also for agricultural production. Hand tractors used in land preparation, irrigation pumps supplying water to rice fields, harvesters, and trucks transporting produce to markets all rely heavily on diesel fuel.
In the fisheries sector, small-scale fishers depend almost entirely on diesel to operate their motorized bancas.
SINAG also warned of a possible surge in fuel prices due to global supply disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East. Projections indicate fuel prices could rise by ₱19 to ₱25 per liter, potentially pushing diesel pump prices in the Philippines to nearly ₱94 per liter. The Philippines imports about 90 percent of its oil requirements, making it highly vulnerable to global price shocks.
Fuel costs already account for up to 80 percent of operating expenses for small fishing operations and play a major role in farming costs from land preparation to post-harvest transport.
The group urged the DOE to issue a directive reminding fuel retailers that refusing to sell fuel without valid justification may constitute an abusive practice, particularly during a supply crisis.
SINAG warned that if the issue is not resolved immediately, food production could decline, eventually leading to higher food prices and increased inflation for Filipino consumers.