BY: ANGELICA ARQUERO
Public transport drivers are once again feeling the burden of rising fuel prices, as oil companies implemented a price increase of over one peso per liter starting today.
For Chris Paos, a jeepney driver, the price hikes have made daily expenses even harder to manage. He refuels four times a week, and each increase significantly affects his take-home earnings.“When prices go down, it’s just by a few centavos. But when they go up, it’s by one or two pesos. It’s tough, but we have no choice. We have to drive because if we don’t, we won’t have anything to eat,” Paos said.
From his daily income of 1,500 pesos, he often brings home only 500 pesos, with most of his earnings spent on fuel.
“Budget meals now cost 120 pesos, so there’s barely anything left for other expenses,” he added.
The same struggle is felt by 57-year-old Victor Alad-iw, another jeepney driver, who said that even driving every day is not enough to cover the increasing costs.
“We earn around 700 pesos a day, but when prices go up, that drops to 500 pesos, and if they rise again, we get even less,” he said.
Instead of providing for his family, much of his income now goes straight to fuel expenses.
According to oil price monitoring data, the latest increases are as follows: Gasoline: 1.20 pesos to 1.40 pesos per liter; Diesel: 1.00 pesos to 1.20 pesos per liter; and Kerosene: 1.00 pesos to 1.20 pesos per liter.
These adjustments follow last week’s price hike on March 25, where gasoline prices went up by 1.10 pesos per liter, while diesel and kerosene increased by 0.40 centavos per liter.
“If possible, fuel prices should be lowered so that we, as drivers, can take home more for our families,” Paos pleaded.
However, with no signs of relief in fuel prices, drivers are left with no choice but to keep working despite diminishing earnings.
