ILOILO City – Transport groups, drivers of public utility jeepneys (PUJs), and taxi drivers are worried and complained about the possible reduction in their trip profits this week.
This also follows the recorded increase in gasoline to P3 per liter and diesel to P5 per liter on Tuesday, March 8, according to oil companies.
According to Raymundo “Boyet” Parcon, president of the Western Visayas Transport Cooperative (WVTC) starting last Saturday, March 5 same time with the news that there will be an increase in gasoline, many of his drivers have already called and asked what they can do to ease the burden of this oil price hike.
“On my side, my drivers are already talking. We can’t do this because I can stop them,” Parcon said in an interview with Panay News.”
Parcon explained that it will not be possible for the drivers to come together after their income is only enough to buy rice and vegetables for the family.
Parcon’s, appeal to operators to lend their driver’s money to full tank their respective cars in advance before the started on March 8.
“Ang drivers naton way ni kwarta no. Ginapangabay lang naton ang operators nga magpa-utang,” dugang ni Parcon.
Parcon also hopes that the Department of Energy (DOE) will be able to respond to their request to suspend the value-added tax and excise tax on fuel to reduce the burden on drivers.
If the DOE fails to respond within this week, the petition for a P2.50 increase in fare will be filed with the WVTC by the Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers’ Association (ICLAJODA), the Iloilo City Alliance of Drivers Association. (ICADA), and Iloilo City Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (ICAJODA).
“Way man gihapon naga-reply ang DOE ti mapilitan kami guro sa pag-petition sang P2.50 nga plete,” Parcon added.
According to Rolando Nepomoceno, a resident of Janiuay, Iloilo, and a taxi driver, for drivers if this oil price continues it will be a great pain for them.
“Ti, tama gid kasakit. Hamakon mo para sa amon nga naga-boundary ukon naga-arkila lang kami tama kasakit gid,” Nepomoceno said.
Nepomoceno explained that if he only earns P1,300 per day from a taxi trip, it will be deducted by the P700 boundary and P500 fuel which will leave him no income to bring to his family.
“Ti, ang akon ni bali P700 per day ang boundary. Katong una P500 lang dya mo ginabayad ko. Indi ko gani masapar bisan ang boundary ko tapos masaka pa ang gatong,” Nepomoceno added.
This is the reason why Nepomoceno prefers to raise the fare so that they can also make up for the cost of fuel.
This is also the reaction of Daniel Parreño, who has been a taxi driver for 25 years.
“Indi na gani kami maka-ginansya, masaka pa. Wala na gani kami dala pauli, ma-income pa. Nagasaka na gani ang gasolina pero ang pasahero laka-laka lang, way gani dala pauli,” Parreño complained.
Parreño explained that his income from a taxi trip is only P800; P600 is for the rental or boundary, which will leave him P200 pesos. Sometimes his income is only P600 and he has nothing to bring for the family.
But at the mercy of their operator, he was given P200 to buy rice.
“Indi gani kalab-ot P800 ang amon income, asta lang P600. Maayo lang kon ang tag-iya maka-intindi, padal-an ya kami P200, P400 iya kay P600 man lang amon income,” dugang ni Parreño.
Parreño called on the national government to give importance to the driver, especially since fuel is very expensive and passengers were scarce.
“Tagaan man nila importansya ang mga driver makaluluoy lang ang drivers, tanan nga drivers, nagapunga-it na sang pigado nga biyahe, way gani ginansya magpauli naga-away pa kami sang asawa namon kay wala kami dal-on pauli. Ano abi ang lutuon namon? Balas kag bato,” dugang ni Parreño.
According to Romeo Oños of Maasin, Iloilo, driver of Maasin-Iloilo City, and vice versa PUJ, they are sure to reduce their profits once there is an oil price hike.
“Apektado kami eh kay way man pagsaka ang amon plete,” Oños said.
Oños called on the national government through the Land Transportation Regulatory and Franchising Board to also find steps to help drivers.
As for Oños, his daily fuel costs will not be less than P800.
If the price of fuel continues to rise, his daily budget will certainly increase by P1,000.
“Kon magsaka pa gid? Dugang na gid ang pierde namon eh,” dugang pa sini.
Ini man ang pahayag ni Modesto Claro, driver sang Leon-Iloilo City and vice versa nga PUJ.
According to Claro, the fare for PUJs will increase after the price of fuel goes up, otherwise, he will be forced to stop the trip if the oil price continues this week after it pumps up to 30 liters in his jeep.
“Okay lang daad kon ang pamasahe pasakaan nila mo. Ti, pareho
kanakon ti ma-untat ako biyahe kay bakud akon makina kadya mga P30 liters ang gInatughong. Ti, kUng mag-P65 na kada litro sang gatong raku-raku na eh mga P1,500 to P1,600 gid ang akon magasto kada adlaw,” Claro said./PN
