Nation battles soaring fuel costs

Much-needed help: Tricycle drivers showing their documents to receive cash assistance from the government to help their livelihood as oil prices continue to rise, in Manila. — AP

Hundreds of Philippine tricycle drivers lined up in Manila for cash handouts they hope will provide temporary relief from a conflict-driven surge in fuel prces that has left the country scrambling for short-term answers.

Since US-Israeli strikes on Iran triggered the Middle East conflict last month, the archipelago nation has implemented a four-day work week for civil servants, seen ferry schedules reduced in some areas, and begun eyeing the possibility of Russian oil imports.

As the drivers awaited their handouts yesterday, officials unveiled a series of price hikes across a range of local transportation, including the ubiquitous smoke-belching jeepneys millions of Filipinos rely on to get to work each day.

But the hikes did not extend to the country’s hundreds of thousands of tricycle drivers, who earn money by carrying pas­sengers down narrow, winding alleys on small motorbikes and carria­ges.

“These are the highest fuel prices I’ve ever experienced,” said Romeo Cipriano, who has driven a tricycle for four decades.

The subsidy of 5,000 pesos (RM328) would be “better than nothing”, the 60-year-old said, describing how he had arrived at 6am to avoid standing in the heat.

Al de Ocampo said his daily earnings had been halved from 1,000 pesos (RM65.60) to just 500 pesos (RM32.80) in recent weeks.

Getting higher: Workers changing the price label of fuel at a petrol station in Manila. — AFP

The handout he received would last no more than a week, he said.

“The price of fuel rose again today, but the fare is still the same, with customers unable to afford to pay any more,” de Ocampo said.

“They must remove the fuel tax if possible. If they can’t remove the tax entirely, then reduce it by 50%. That would be a great help until the end of the conflict.”

The Senate was expected to vote later in the day to grant President Ferdinand Marcos, who was on hand for the subsidy ­dispersal, the authority to temporarily suspend or reduce excise taxes on oil.

At a press briefing yesterday, Vigor Mendoza, chair of the country’s transportation regulator, announced fare hikes that he said were “proof of genuine concern” for both commuters and the embattled sector.

Most rides in jeepneys, the back­­bone of the country’s transport system, were set to jump about 8% on average, the regulator announced.

The Philippines, which depends almost entirely on the Middle East for its crude oil, is now also eyeing the possibility of purchasing from Russia, after a temporary easing of US restrictions on some oil sales following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Yesterday, Ramon Ang, CEO of the Philippines’ sole oil refiner Petron, confirmed the company was “in talks” to potentially purchase Russian oil, while declining to provide details. — AFP