ILOILO City – Drivers and operators of public utility jeepneys here are not rushing to stage a transport strike despite rising fuel prices.
“Lantawon naton kon ano ang reply sang DOE (Department of Energy) sa aton proposal nga i-suspend ang excise tax kag kon i-grant ang (fuel) subsidy,” said Raymundo Parcon, president of the Iloilo City Loop Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (ICLAJODA).
They also seek a P2.50 increase in the minimum fare.
According to Parcon, information reached them that the government plans to resume the fuel subsidy program – P6,500 per driver.
Last week, oil companies implement another big-time price hike for the seventh straight week, given supply constraints in the global market.
Parcon said the most ideal is to roll back fuel prices. That’s because drivers now spend between P1,000 and P1,200 each day for their fuel – up from between P700 to P800 before the series of fuel price increases this month.
The increasing fuel prices are eating on the drivers’ daily income, he lamented.
Jeepney driver Florence Mejia (Ungka-Jaro CPU-Iloilo City route and vice versa) said transport strike won’t be effective if drivers and operators are not united.
“Bisan magdupa-dupa pa kami sa karsada waay man gihapon epekto. Makasohan pa kami kay ti wala kami nagbiyahe. Lain ‘ya sang una nga paghambal nga transport strike tanan naga-ugyon,” Mejia told Panay News.
Driver Crisistomo Gamayao (Ungka ITGSI-Diversion Road – Iloilo City and vice versa) agreed with Mejia.
“Indi ako mag-upod kun may strike kay waay man naga-ugyon ang iban. Useless man gihapon. Panubuon na lang ang krudo para waay na duro reklamo,” he said.
George Derecho, another driver (Ungka-Jaro CPU-Iloilo City and vice versa), said a price roll back is what they hope for because the high fuel prices (now between P54 and P56) are eating on their daily income. He said he now spends almost P900 for refueling each day.
“Gamay lang gani tulad ang madala ko nga income sa balay. Kon kaisa indi na kalab-ot sa P500,” said Derecho.
Since the fuel price adjustments two weeks ago, local gasoline prices have already increased by P6.75 per liter, P9.15 per liter for diesel, and P8.45 per liter for kerosene.
“Daw sobra P2 na ang saka per liter,” according to Parcon. Thus they consider it reasonable to seek a P2.50 increase in the minimum fare.
The current jeepney minimum fare is P9 for the first four kilometers plus P1.50 for every succeeding kilometer. Drivers and operators want it raised to P11.50 for the first four kilometers plus P1.50 for every succeeding kilometer.
An added burden, according to Parcon, is the pandemic restriction of 70 percent maximum passenger occupancy in jeepneys.
Aside from ICLAJODA, also calling for a P2.50 increase in the minimum fare are the Iloilo City Alliance of Drivers Association (ICADA), Iloilo City Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (ICAJODA) and the Metro Iloilo Transport Service Cooperative (MITSC)./PN
