ILOILO City – As fears of a major petroleum supply crunch sent world oil prices to a global high of $139 a barrel, another round of fuel price increase is expected this week.
The projected increase is between P11.75 and P11.95 per liter for diesel, P6.90 to P7.20 per liter for gasoline, and P9.70 to P9.80 per liter of kerosene.
Transport groups are wary of this 11th straight week of fuel price increases.
“Penetensya gid ang mga drivers ta eh. Ti, mga drivers namon subong may nag-uluntat na. Kon magsige-sige sila sang biyahe, mapierde gid lang sila,” said Raymundo Parcon, president of the Western Visayas Transport Cooperative (WVTC).
He had been receiving calls from anxious drivers, he revealed.
“Daw call center ang aton telepono. Damo nagatawag nga drivers and operators. Ang sabat ko sa ila waay ta mahimu kundi pangabayon ang gobyerno nga i-suspend ang excise tax kay kon indi ma-suspend masakit-sakit ini sa mga pumoluyo kay masaka tanan,” said Parcon.
He also said the one-time government fuel subsidy (Pantawid Pasada fuel cards) of P6,500 for each driver – which may be released this week or next week – won’t be enough.
“Agi lang na ang fuel subsidy. Magtughong kaw P1,000 a day, anum man lang ni ka adlaw ang puersa ya,” said Parcon.
At the moment, diesel in Iloilo City cost P62.63 per liter while for gasoline, it is P68 per liter.
In Iloilo province, the price is P70 per liter of gasoline.
Parcon warned of higher prices of goods as an effect of the fuel price increases./PN
