By RANDY DATU | April 30, 2026

IBA, Zambales — Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. has ordered the Provincial Agriculture Office to fast track the release of economic assistance to local fishermen who were forced to stop fishing in the waters of Zambales due to the Balikatan military exercises and high cost of fuel.

Under the 2026 Balikatan Exercises, Filipino and American troops held live-fire and defense drills at Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui in San Antonio, Zambales from April 26 to 29.

During the military exercise, local fisherfolk were asked not to fish in the area.

Paulo Quitaneg, president of the Zambales Provincial Fisherfolks Association, also said that because of the high price of diesel and gasoline due to the ongoing conflict in Iran, most of the fishermen in the province have decided not to fish.

“These are the two factors that caused severe impact on the livelihood of the 28,000 local fishermen,” said Quitaneg. 

Quitaneg, meanwhile, expressed gratitude to the provincial government after hearing the news from Ebdane, through Provincial Consultant for Development and Infrastructure Doningo Mariano, that cash assistance to fishermen is on its way.

“It is a blessing that our good governor has already ordered the release of the economic assistance package. They are already there, and ready for distribution to our weary fishermen,” Quitaneg added. 

The group is also knocking on the doors of national government offices for more aid because some small fishermen in the province cannot resume their fishing operations until June, or until the price of gasoline returns to its level before the war in Iran started.

Quitaneg said that local fishermen worry that if they were to go fishing today, there won’t be enough earnings left for their family because of high operating expenses caused by rising fuel cost. ▲