Transport groups slam latest fuel price hikes, ask gov't to address their plight

Several transport groups on Sunday appealed to the government to help address their plight after an oil industry source bared an expected new round of fuel pump price hikes this week.

In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP) president Ricardo "Boy" Rebaño disclosed that many jeepney drivers now tend to look for other sources of income as they could no longer keep up with the big-time increases in the pump prices of petroleum products.

“Hindi pa nga nagtataas ng presyo ng petroleum products at marami na ang humihinto sa pagmamaneho at naghahanap na sila ng ibang pagkakakitaan. Hindi na talaga kumikita dahil napupunta na lang sa mga station ng gasolinahan. Hirap na hirap na po talaga sila,” he said.

(The price of petroleum products has not yet even increased but many have stopped driving and looked for other sources of income. They are not earning anymore because it just goes to the gas stations. They are really struggling.)

Based on the May 30 to June 3 oil trading, an oil industry source told GMA News Online that the price per liter of diesel may increase by P6.30 to P6.60 this week.

Gasoline prices, meanwhile, may go up by P2.50 to P2.80 per liter, the source added.

Meanwhile, the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) national president Mody Floranda stressed that these increases in the prices of petroleum products will greatly affect the transport sector considering that jeepney drivers nowadays only earn P300 per day after working for 12 to 18 hours.

“Halos hindi na kumikita [ang myga drayber], tapos ito pa ‘yung isinasalubong sa 'tin ng pamahalaan, ‘yung lingguhang pagbabago ng presyuhan ng mga produktong petrolyo. Kung titignan natin, parang sinasalaula na ‘yung mamamayang Pilipino ng mga malalaking kumpanya ng langis kasi may mga araw na binababa nila ‘yung diesel, may mga araw naman na tinataas ang diesel at binababa naman ang gasolina,” he said.

(The drivers almost earn nothing and the government still allows the weekly change in the prices of petroleum products. It seems that the Filipinos are being insulted by the big oil companies because there are days when they lower the diesel prices, and there are days when they raise the diesel and lower the gasoline prices.)

Rebaño further emphasized that it would be good if the government would just help small operators buy modern jeepneys or e-jeepneys so they no longer have to depend on petroleum products.

The government has implemented a fuel subsidy program to help alleviate the plight of the public transport sector due to the series of price hikes on fuel brought on by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Over 180,000 out of  the 377,000 qualified public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators have already received P6,500 each as fuel subsidy, according to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board. —KG, GMA News