MANILA, Philippines — Senator Loren Legarda has voiced strong opposition to the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) plan to import up to 350,000 metric tons of fish, arguing that the government should instead focus on lowering fuel costs for local fishing communities through a Value-Added Tax (VAT) suspension.
In a statement released on Friday, April 17, 2026, Legarda warned that prioritizing imports over local production threatens the country’s long-term food security and the livelihoods of thousands of small-scale fishers already crippled by the energy crisis.
The call for intervention comes as rising fuel prices have made it financially impossible for many fishers to operate:
- Boats Grounded: Data from the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) revealed that nearly 50% of small fishers in provinces like Cavite, Bataan, Zambales, and Pangasinan have stopped going out to sea following the April 7 fuel price hike.
- Operating Costs: Fuel now accounts for up to 80% of total operating expenses for small fishing vessels, leading to a “collapse” in local supply.
- Import Critique: Legarda labeled the DA’s import plan “misplaced,” stating that the government cannot “trade our fishers for imported fish” while local boats remain tied to the shore.
Legarda is championing two key bills aimed at providing immediate economic relief to the agriculture and transport sectors:
- Senate Bill No. 2043: This measure authorizes the suspension or reduction of VAT on fuel during periods of national emergency.
- Senate Bill No. 1942: A broader bill seeking to suspend both the excise tax and VAT on petroleum products.
- A Matter of Will: The Senator emphasized that oil industry players have already confirmed that a VAT suspension is technically feasible. She argued that the delay is no longer about fiscal capacity, but a lack of “political will” to prioritize people over revenue.
Legarda urged the DA to pivot its strategy away from importation as a first response. Instead, she called for a comprehensive contingency plan that includes:
- Direct Fuel Subsidies: Immediate cash transfers to help fishers cover trip expenses.
- Operational Support: Strengthening local market linkages to ensure fishers get fair prices for their catch.
- Food Sovereignty: Prioritizing the local fishing industry to ensure the “foundation of food security” remains intact.
“If we have no fishers, there will be no food on the Filipino family’s table,” Legarda concluded. As the Senate prepares for further hearings, the debate over fuel taxation and agricultural imports remains a focal point of the government’s response to the ongoing global energy shock.