With fuel prices rising for four straight weeks, many drivers in Pangasinan are struggling to keep up. Some are now turning to extra jobs just to make ends meet.

“[Sa] gasolina lang ang kuwan, pumupunta ang kita namin. Kumita ako ng 500, gasolina 300 to 200 kaya ayaw ko na. Maghanap ako ng construction kung minsan-minsan lang,” Dickson Tumanan, a tricycle driver, said.

Transport groups like the One Pangasinan Transport Federation are backing a fare increase, citing the growing burden on drivers.

“Although meron kaming pending na petisyon from national, yung 15 pesos. Hindi nga lang matuloy-tuloy dahil nga binabalanse yung sitwasyon. Subalit kung sa amin ang tatanungin, talagang gusto naming kahit magkaroon ng additional na one peso increase,” Bernard Tuliao, federation president, said.

As of August 5, 2025, oil companies rolled out a price hike of P1.90 per liter for gasoline, P1.20 for diesel, and P1.00 for kerosene, according to the Department of Energy – Oil Industry Management Bureau (DOE-OIMB).

DOE-OIMB Assistant Director Rodela Romero said this is still caused by the sanctions and increase in tariffs of the United States to oil coming from Russie, Iran, and Brazil.

“Lahat ng mga ginagamit nating produkto ng petrolyo, nanggagaling sa labas ng bansa. Wala namang reason na domestic, so ibig sabihin, yung mga sinabi ko na geopolitical conflict o ang issue ng fundamentals ng supply ang demand, hindi natin mga kontrol,” Romero added.

The recent increases bring the total net hike over the past four weeks to P4.30 for diesel and P2.90 for both gasoline and kerosene.