Commuters face long queues at Baguio jeepney hubs amid rising fuel prices

Tourists planning to visit Baguio City this Holy Week, especially those who would take jeepneys to commute around the city, may have to be extra patient as the long queues are expected due to the series of oil price hikes.

According to Bea Pinlac’s report in “24 Oras” on Monday, a commuter would have to wait for two to three hours before being able to ride a jeepney.

May-Ann Ben-Ek, a freshman college student, said her commuting experience has affected her studies.

“I was marked absent in my class and my situation remained the same everyday. It’s difficult to commute these days,” she lamented.

Ben-ek said hailing a taxi would be her last resort at times but, she noted, that would significantly cost more. 

Meanwhile, Olivia Mercado had to carry her two-year-old toddler while waiting for a jeepney ride.

“It’s usually the jeepney that waits for us before. But now, we have to queue,” she shared. “Others had to wait up to an hour or two in the line.”

Another commuter, Mavic, said the long line of commuters would sometimes spill over and fill a nearby overpass. They would also have to sit on the concrete floor while waiting for a jeepney plying their route home. 

“Kailangan tiisin kasi siyempre, ‘di naman kami makakauwi kung ‘di namin tatiyagain maghintay,” she shared. 

(We have to endure the long wait, because we won’t be able to go home if we don’t patiently wait.) 

A Baguio City official said the long wait for jeepneys has been a problem in the city ever since, but it was worsened by the price increase of fuel products.

“The roads are clear, but the fuel is so expensive. Before, the trigger for them not wanting to return was the lack of a 'backload', combined with the heavy traffic they'd face going back to the city to pick up more people. So their operational costs are massive just to cover that,” said VJ Cawis, Baguio City administrator.

The price of diesel in Baguio City has reached over P138 per liter and gasoline prices have surpassed P100.

As a result, the number of active PUV drivers is dwindling due to fuel costs. The income they earn that should be their take-home pay for their families is now allocated to purchase fuel.

“Our fellow driver-operators have stopped plying their routes. We are only taking home P200. But students would have a hard time if we don’t ply the roads, so we are just thinking about that,” said jeepney driver Augustus Padsoyan.

To address the problems of both commuters and drivers, the local government of Baguio City is studying the implementation of an emergency mobility support program.

“We will cover the jeepneys' expenses so that the costs they have to pay are at least mitigated,” said Cawis.

“We have to be aggressive in addressing the fleet management systems of driver associations, staging areas, and the provision for more jeepney terminals,” he added.

Jeepney driver Stephen Fiarawe said this mitigation plan will be helpful since they are unable to shoulder the high operational costs on their own. 

But, he said, the solution that jeepney drivers like him need is a sufficient fare hike. 

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. had earlier ordered the suspension of LTFRB-approved fare hikes of P1 to as much as P40 in all public utility vehicles, except regular taxis and motorcycle taxis.  

While the lines to ride a jeepney in Baguio are long, the buses, on the other hand, are lucky if they even manage to get a full load of passengers.

“Before, there was a surge of passengers, but now there's none. If we don't have at least 20 passengers, we won't even be able to make the trip,” said bus driver Chris Pacheco. — Vince Angelo Ferreras and Bea Pinlac/BAP/AOL, GMA News