64-year-old jeepney driver could barely take home P200 amid continuous fuel price hike

A 64-year-old jeepney driver could barely take home P200 amid the continuous fuel price hike in the Philippines.

Francis Manuyag, who has been loyal to his job for 40 years, said that 2022 is by far the most difficult time he has lived through, especially coming out of the coronavirus pandemic that disallowed him from working for two years.

“Dalawang taon halos akong hindi nakabyahe. Buti nga nakabalik kami ngayon kahit papaano,” Mang Francis said in a report on "Reporter's Notebook."

His current income could not match up to what he used to earn pre-pandemic, but he is still forced to go to continue his work no matter since this is his only source of income.

“Mapipilitan pa rin [magtrabaho] kasi wala naman kaming alam na hanapbuhay, ito lang," he said. "Tsaka sa edad kong ito, wala nang tatanggap sakin eh."

Since 2022 started, petroleum product prices have increased 24 times already. According to the report, gasoline was priced at P64.58 per liter in January. This month, it grew to P88.33.

Meanwhile, the then P54 per liter Diesel is now priced at P88.15.

As of writing, petroleum products are now at nearly P100 per liter.

For Mang Francis, a day's drive from Pantranco to PhilCoa in Quezon City would earn him an average of P1,300.

However, this is not the amount he gets to take home as he has to set aside P300 for his boundary and P800 for gas.

That leaves him with more or less P200 to support his three children on a daily basis.

“Mga anak ko wala namang hanapbuhay eh, so tinutulungan ko pa rin sila," he said. “Ang magulang kasi hindi matitiis ang anak eh.”

According to Energy Undersecretary Gerardo Erguiza Jr., "due to a mix of factors including the global demand and the geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine," gas prices could hit P100 per liter should the weekly increase continues. —Hermes Joy Tunac/JCB, GMA News