PUV Drivers in Baguio Reel from Fuel Price Surge, Call for Relief
By: Dave Leprozo Jr.
Taxi driver Joel Fabellana appeals for lower boundaries from operators.
Baguio City — As global oil prices continue to spiral upward, public utility drivers in the city are sounding the alarm over shrinking incomes and rising costs. Jeepney driver Manuel Sabang waits anxiously for the government’s promised subsidy under the Ayuda system, hoping it will help cushion the blow of daily expenses.
Meanwhile, taxi driver Joel Fabellena has appealed to operators to lower the boundary percentage system, saying the current scheme leaves him unable to cover his cost of living. “If management does not reduce the boundary, I will be forced to stop driving and look for another livelihood,” he stressed, underscoring the desperation felt by many in the sector.
Shrinking peso against the fuel prices squeeze earnings as fare remains steady.
Thousands Affected
There are around 3,200 registered taxi units currently plying the Baguio route, all facing the same financial strain. Drivers say that without immediate intervention—whether through government aid or management concessions—their ability to continue serving commuters is at risk.
Rising Pump Prices
The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced another round of oil price hikes in the coming days, adding to the uncertainty fueled by the ongoing Middle East crisis. As of yesterday, pump prices stood at:
- Diesel Super – ₱121.60 per liter
- Diesel Regular – ₱115.00 per liter
- Gasoline Extra – ₱96.00 per liter
A Sector on Edge
For drivers, every peso counts. Jeepney operators worry about balancing affordable fares with operational costs, while taxi drivers struggle under boundary systems that no longer reflect today’s economic realities. Farmers and fisherfolk, too, brace for the ripple effects of higher fuel prices on production and transport.
As the crisis deepens, PUV drivers are united in their call: ease the burden now, before livelihoods stall and commuters are left stranded.
