The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) has appealed to Bongbong Marcos to direct the Department of Energy (DOE) to immediately investigate the alleged refusal of some gas stations to sell diesel and gasoline to farmers carrying their own containers.
According to SINAG, the group has received numerous complaints from small farmers and fishermen in several provinces.
Some gas stations, they said, have reportedly refused to sell the fuel products to them over the past four days.
In many areas, farmers usually purchase diesel using containers because they do not bring tractors and water pumps with them to gasoline stations.
SINAG Chair Rosendo So said the refusal to sell fuel to the sector is unacceptable.
He emphasized that farmers and fishermen rely on diesel not only for transportation but also for food production.
So added that preventing them from obtaining fuel could delay agricultural operations.
The group is urging authorities to immediately implement measures to protect the country’s food producers and not focus solely on the transport sector.
They also warned that if the situation continues, it could further worsen the impact on the country’s food supply chain.
