Some jeepney drivers stop plying routes due to high fuel prices

Some public utility jeepney drivers have decided to stop plying routes due to the mega price hike on fuel products that took effect on Tuesday. 

In Saleema Refran’s report in “24 Oras”, several motorists lined up at a gasoline station in Quezon City, in hopes of getting cheaper gasoline before the prices adjusted at 6 a.m.

“Kung hindi tayo hahabol, wala tayong kikitain sa taas ng krudo. Walang magagawa, kailangan maghanapbuhay. Kapag hindi ka maghanap buhay, magugutom ka. Wala namang solusyon ang gobyerno dito,” said jeepney driver Joey Luciano. 

(f we don't catch [the lower price], we won't earn anything because of the high cost of fuel. We can’t do anything; we have to make a living. If you don’t work, you’ll go hungry. The government has no solution.) 

Meanwhile, some motorists failed to gas before fuel prices increased. 

“Sisipagan na lang kaso ganun pa rin. Kahit sipagan mo, mauubos din kasi gas mo, pipila ka ulit…. Wala tayong magagawa, laban lang,” said James Noog, a motorcycle taxi rider. 

(I'll just work harder, but it’s still the same. Even if you work hard, your gas will just run out and you'll have to line up again... We can’t do anything about it, we just have to keep fighting.) 

After 6 a.m., marking the implementation of the soaring high price hike, only a few motorists are getting refueled in gasoline stations. 

Jeepney driver Alison Cruz had to check first if he had enough money to get refueled. He already made four stops, but said he has yet to earn enough. 

“P300 pa lang ‘yung sumusobra doon sa mga kinarga ko…Eh magba-boundary pa ako, boundary ko ay P600…Hanggang mamaya pa ako nito, hindi ko alam kung kikita,” he said. 

(I only have P300 left after buying fuel... and I still have to pay my P600 'boundary'. I’ll be out here until later, I don’t even know if I’ll make a profit.) 

Other motorists are already considering other ways to cope with the fuel price hike. Some are considering using bicycles and others are planning to commute via public transportation. 

Jeepney drivers and operators said they are already feeling the effects of rising fuel prices. 

“Kahapon, kausap ko po itong isang grupo ko - Tayuman, Blumentritt - talagang napakabigat po…” said PASANG MASDA national president Obet Martin.

(Yesterday, I was talking to one of my groups—Tayuman, Blumentritt—and it’s really a heavy burden.)  

“... Sabi nga nila ‘Palagay ko ho Ka Obet eh hindi raw namin makakaya, kami po siguro ay magko-construction workers o magtitinda muna kami ng mga barbeque’,” he added. 

(They told me, 'Ka Obet, I don't think we can handle this; maybe we’ll just work as construction workers or sell barbecue for the time being.') 

Some jeepney drivers in Malolos, Bulacan are also considering taking other jobs in the meantime. 

“Dahil yung isang biyahe namin ay mahigit P100 lang kinikita namin, P80 pa ang hulog namin. So mapipilitan muna huminto yung iba na mamasada, paubaya muna sa mga operator habang naghihintay ng ayuda sa gobyerno,” said BMPM Jodai president Rogelio Carlos. 

(Since we only earn a little over P100 per trip, and P80 of that goes to our dues. So, others will be forced to stop driving for now and leave it to the operators while waiting for the government subsidy.)

Meanwhile, groups protested against the fuel price hike. They called for the junking of the Oil Deregulation Law, and the removal of the value added tax and excise tax. 

“Hindi na kaya ng mga drayber at operator. Hindi na rin kaya ng ating mga ordinaryong manggagawa dahil sa karampot na sahod. Hindi na rin sasapat ang maliit na kita ng ating mga drayber at operator,” said PISTON president Mody Floranda. 

(The drivers and operators can't take it anymore. Our ordinary workers can't take it either because of their meager wages. The small earnings of our drivers and operators simply won't be enough.) 

“Ano ang saysay ng fuel subsidy kung tuloy-tuloy na tumataas ang presyo ng petrolyo?” he added. 

(What is the point of a fuel subsidy if the price of petroleum keeps continuously rising?) 

Many motorists already prepared for the price hike as early as Monday night. Some looked for gasoline stations offering cheap per liter prices. 

“Kailangan mo talaga maghanap ng mababa ang gasolina para makatipid ka kahit papaano,” said motorist Abdul Hamin. 

(You really need to look for lower fuel prices just to save money somehow.) 

In North Cotabato and in Zamboanga, some vehicle owners brought containers to store additional fuel before the price hike. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News