MANILA, Philippines — After rolling out the P5,000 fuel support program to public transport drivers, the government will soon be handing out gas assistance to farmers and fishermen as part of the government's response to the effects of surging oil costs, Malacañang announced Thursday. In a statement, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the tapping of a P10 billion fund to support farmers and fisherfolk affected by rising fuel prices. Recto said the plan to include “these food producers” stemmed from the fact that farming and fishing were heavily dependent on fuel. “In this mechanized era, farmers rely on equipment from tractors to harvesters,” the Executive secretary said. “And fishermen no longer paddle out to sea. They are brought there by boats powered by gas or diesel engines. That is why as much as 75 percent of the market price of fish represent fuel cost,” he added.