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Gas Price hikes Push Commuters to seek Alternative Modes of Transportation

By Chelsea Jewel Malonzo | @Jewel_TRL Andrea Erin Ramos | @Erin_TRL


Philippines — one of the third-world countries that were significantly affected by inflation and global oil prices, which caused complaints and distress in the economy.

A university student from Bulacan State University, Deinielle Ordonio, made up his mind to switch his mode of transportation from being a commuter to using his own motorcycle.

He claimed that using his motorcycle makes it more convenient for him to use rather than riding other transportation like jeepneys and tricycles when going out for school.

From his home to Bulacan State University, Danielle said it took him 16 kilometers “point to point” and his total duration only got him 20 minutes. However, when it comes to commuting, it took him an hour.

He may have struggles in using his motorcycle, especially when raining, the heat, and the heavy traffic where he gets usually stranded, but Ordonio said that he still chooses to ride his motor instead of commuting.





Looking back to last year, October 10, 2021, in response to the ongoing rise in petroleum products, jeepney owners and drivers plan to launch a petition asking for a P3 increase in the minimum charge.

Despite the slow recovery from the pandemic year, Filipinos have a hard time accepting the fate that the covid-19 is not just the only major problem in their lives, but one of these major problems is the gas hike prices which involves a high rate of inflation.

A jeepney driver from Longos, Pulilan, Bulacan, Mr. Gonzalo Javier, also known as “Kuya Along” explained how this gas hike price affects his daily budget.


He said that the increase in gas prices without the increase in transportation prices is very draining for them.


“Walang matitira sa amin halos…” Kuya Along said.
“Kung maibabalik sa Php40 yung diesel, pwedeng…i- sa Php10… iyon kikita parin kami,” he added.

Gas price fluctuations are nothing new. Many of us make it a practice to check the most recent oil price fluctuations or increases each week. We criticize price increases and cheer when they fall. A reality of modern life.

Thus, as early as January 10, 2022, a price increase for fuel has been announced for January 11, 2022. Diesel will increase by P1.10 per liter while gasoline would increase by P0.75.

Below are the announcements by Caltex, Seaoil, and Cleanfuel:






Over the past few months, wallets of the Filipinos have been suffering from the fuel crisis, which seems to never stop. It has been the pattern for a while now to see a minimal rollback one week then significant price increases the following.


“Sa pagtaas, malaki ang epekto… kasi malaki ang nababawas sa kita namin…” Kuya Along said.

Hence, the results of these gas hike prices that lead to raising the minimum fare for drivers will fall catastrophically since pump prices have already been growing substantially, which also pushed commuters to have an alternative mode of transportation.


“Dati nagpupunta kaming Malolos… commute, mahirap. Wala pang pasok non, kaya naisip kong magmotor na lang para mas madali.” Said Ordonio.

Ordonio explained how convincing it is to switch his mode of transportation from being a commuter to riding his motorcycle since for him it saves a lot of money and time.

He was fixed on his decision about not getting back to being a commuter.

Even though he has maintenance to keep, particularly the change of oil every two months which cause him Php500, still, he concludes that it still saves more than being a commuter.

However, despite riding his motorcycle which saves him more money, Ordonio made the point that in some parts of his days, his daily allowance is not enough to fit his budget for his personal life.

Truly, the gas hike price is not the only problem in relation to Ordionio’s life, the food and other things correlated to inflation bring him nightmares.


“May time na kailangan mo magpaprint… bumili nung mga tools na gagamitin mo sa department. Automotive kasi yung course ko, kasi minsan pag may pinapagawa yung prof, bibili ka nung mga pyesa eh hindi naman mura yung mga binibili namin…” Ordonio explained.
“For example ang pinaka mura sa binibili namin is… parang ang pinaka mababa na yung 100” he added.

Ordonio is also experiencing a shortage in his daily allowance despite him not paying for any of his transportation except his gas which does not cause him too much.

Fortunately, despite the erratic pump prices and rollbacks in more than half a year, September gives a warm welcome to ‘ber months’.

Thus, at the end of the week of September, news regarding rollbacks began to plant smiles again on the faces of Filipinos.




FOOD AND NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES BROUGHT HIGHER INFLATION

PSA mentioned that the higher annual growth rate brought higher inflation in the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, which was last seen in May 2022 from its percentage of 4.9 percent to 6.0 percent in June 2022. In addition, transportation costs were 14.9 percent in May, then rose to 17.1 percent in June.


Top 10 contributors to Inflation in September 2022:




“Yung pagtaas kasi ng presyo ng bilihin, ang epekto sa amin niyan ay yung kinikita naming… imbis na magkasya… ayon kinakapos na rin.” said Kuya Along.

In relation to Kuya Along’s response is the answer of Lota Carlos, a market vendor from Pulilan who struggles to keep up with the continuous rise of inflation since her salary does not increase.

“Sa buhay ngayon puro kapos. Hindi ba maraming nagrereklamo, maraming nahihirapan. Dating hindi ka nangungutang, ngayon nakakautang ka kahit papaano dahil kapos ang sweldo.”

Lota Carlos shared that it took her an hour to commute from home to her working place, but she indicated that nothing will happen if she stays at home. Thus, no matter how hard her situation is, she pushes herself to work.



Rice is one of the factors of faster food inflation which went from -1.3% in September 2021 to 2.4% in September 2022. The other factors, which the data are all recorded in September 2022, were followed by corn (26.2%), fish (9.1%), bread and cereals (9.0%), fruits (3.8%), and sugar (30.2%). Meanwhile, meat (9.0% from 12.8%) and vegetables (3.5% from 17.5%) were highlighted as having slower inflation.


“Ay oo, apektado talaga. Kasi mahal na, marami pang nabubulok. Tapos matumal.” Said Marie San Andres, also a market vendor who sells vegetables.



It is indicated in the report of NEDA that the reason why vegetable inflation slowed was because of the government’s measures of improved supplies that will ensure the availability of agri-related products in local markets such as KADIWA and other programs.


TRANSPORTATION IN SEPTEMBER 2022

Transportation played a significant role in non-food inflation which accelerated to 14.5% this year from 5.6% in September 2021.

Private transportation rose to 33.4% while public transportation climbed 8.4 percent due to the fact that unleaded gas was 28.1% (from 17.6%) and diesel was 74.3% (from 30.4%) in September 2022.

“Mahirap talaga kasi nababawasan pa yung sahod ko dahil sa gasolina.” Said Mrs. San Andres when asked if her salary as market vendor is being pulled down because of the gas price.

Easing global oil prices is anticipated to reflect the uncertainty of the global outlook and lower demand due to the tightening of major economies.


THE FILIPINOS’ REALIZATION AND CONCERN

“Being part of the third world country, I think yung presyo is sobrang lala para sa ating mga Pilipino.”

An honest opinion from a person namely Wesley Estrada, a Filipino who worked from home, explained how transportation is not people-friendly or pro-people as in today’s case.

Deinielle Ordonio may be a student who switched his mode of transportation for his own good to save him from the serious price hike in transportation due to the up and down gas prices that brought higher inflation rate, still, there are people who greatly suffer from all the damage caused by the high cost of living in the Philippines despite being in the third world country.

The market vendors, people who work every day, and students having just enough money for transportation make it really hard to cope these days.

“Masasabi ko lang eh, na sana kahit papaano, bumaba na.” Said Mrs. San Andres who really wanted the prices to decrease for both in gas and consumer goods.
“Kasi syempre, para lahat naman ng ano makabili rin—yung ibang taong gustong makabili ng ganito, yun.” She added.

Overall, despite having a hard time dealing and coping with what the Philippines can offer for the citizens, hard workers and tired Filipino workers still put a big smile on their faces and that is one thing a brave Filipino always ends up with despite the struggles and challenges they encounter in their day-to-day lives.

In the end, Filipinos do not settle for the bare minimum rather we fight for what we deserve by working and striving hard to be Filipino citizens.



Other interviewees who wholeheartedly share their opinion in relation to the continuous gas hike prices and inflation rate in the Philippines:

Wesley Estrada

A Filipino worker who is obliged to work from home as per the request of their company.



Alanis Rivero

A college commuter.












References:




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