BY IME SORNITO, RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS & GLENDA TAYONA
ILOILO City – Many consumers, especially food vendors, are looking at big losses following a big-time liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) price hike.
On Feb. 1, oil companies increased their LPG prices by P11.18 to P11.20 per kilogram, making a regular 11-kilogram household LPG tank more expensive by P123.
Among those anxious was Rex Donasco, a carinderia owner at the Iloilo Central Market. His business consumes two LPG tanks each month.
The LPG price hike could force him to increase also the prices of the dishes he sells.
“Syado gid kadaku nga huol sa mga naga-carinderia kag nagaluto kay apektado na ang amon presyohanay sang amon ginaluto,” said Donasco.
To reduce his LPG consumption, he plans to use firewood.
“Ti, ang domino effect nagahatag sang daku gid nga kabudlay sa pangabuhi naton subong, bag-o lang kita nag-new normal, amo na ina. Ngaa amo na natabu?” added Donasco.
On the other hand, Franz Batchoy owner Vincent Molina said he was using LPG daily from 5 a.m. until 5 p.m. to keep the Ilonggo noodle soup delicacy always hot. He was also one of the tenants in the Iloilo Central Market.
An LPG tank that costs P1,040 only lasts him two to four days.
“Sa batchoyan indi puede namon nga patyan sang LPG or pahina-an ang gatong kay dapat init gid or nagabukal ang amon kaldo. Ti, daku ang epekto na kay ang gasto mo sa LPG pareho lang man sa madamo nagakaon kag gamay ang nagakaon,” said Molina.
Even before the price hike, the vendor had days with negative income on top of overhead expenses like ingredients, rent, and salaries for workers.
Molina said he cannot use coal or firewood since his market space is limited. He feared incurring losses.
Molina and Donasco expressed hope that the national government is drawing up measures to cushion the impact of the LPG price hike.
Naty Bocana of Barangay Veterans Village, City Proper said she buys one tank per week which costs P1,008.
“Sakit-sakit, maburubug-at gid ‘ni kay everyday amo ‘ni gina-use namon. Kon uling budlay man kag mahal man gihapon, P600 ang sako,” said Bocana.
Meanwhile, Werlin Gardose of Barangay Veterans Village, City Proper, said an LPG tank already cost her P1,045 before the price hike.
“Para sa amon nga naga-carinderia, mabug-at gid sia ‘ya kag buhin sa ginansya,” said Gardose.
Apart from businesses, LPG is also an essential commodity for household cooking.
Alias Carlos said, on top of increasing water and electricity charges, this was a triple blow for consumers.
“Nami gid ‘ya nga hello sa akon pagbakal ko nga nagtaas na ‘ya gali ang presyo sang isa ka tangke. Sang una gataas man pero indi gid muni. Sobra naman ini ‘ya. Kung mag-amo sini, husto na lang ni kita manapas sanga sang kahoy kag igatong. Husto lang ni mamurdoy tawo,” he said.
Rita Buena is trying to be smart in her consumption. She said if she has to cook anything that includes boiling for longer periods, she will be using coal or firewood.
“Daku naman ni nga pag-adjust sa amon budget since grabe ang iya pagsaka indi lang basta-basta. So far, kami wala man gasalig sa gasul gid, if may laga-on mostly ga-uling kami or kahoy tapos subong masaka pa gid, basi mabalik na lang gid kami uling sini,” said Bueno.
Meanwhile, Mary Ann Darroca-Matiling, president of Iloilo Hotels Resorts and Restaurants Association (IHRRA), lamented that the LPG price increase is quite big at average of P11 per kilogram.
As impact, she said there will be an increase also in the operation cost of the local businesses.
“Probably a bit of price increase naman for some restaurants. Pero right now, we cannot really do anything about,” said Darroca-Matiling.
The IHRRA president noted upon inquiring with some of the suppliers of LPG, they cited that two of the drivers of the cost of LPG are the importation and inflation.
While other restaurants may opt to increase the prices of their products, some may not considering also the fact that the purchasing capacity of the public did not increase because there is no increase in their income or salaries.
To cope with the increase in their operating cost, Darroca-Matiling said they have shortened their heir operating and overtime hours.
“It depends on restaurant owners. Iban ga-close early by 9 p.m. instead of extending the closing hours to 10 p.m. Iban naga-last order na by 7 p.m. or 8 p.m.,” she added.
On the brighter side, Darroca-Matiling said they are thankful to the city government, particularly to Mayor Jerry Treñas who has been very proactive in this kind of matter.
“Nakapatawag siya last time meeting to address, discuss about inflation and what we can do and how the LGU can help,” she noted.
Darroca-Matiling expressed since businesses have no control on these increase, they can only adjust and be hopeful that the national government will do something about it./PN
