Fuel Price Crisis Squeezes Filipino Drivers, Forcing Tough Choices on Health and Livelihood
In Lapu-Lapu City, traditional jeepney driver Joel Dela Cruz, 55, faces a dire predicament as record-high fuel prices threaten his ability to support his family and manage his health. With fuel costs more than doubling from P1,500 to over P3,000 per full tank, his daily earnings have plummeted from around P800 to as low as P300 to P500. This financial strain is driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, impacting drivers across the Philippines.
Health Struggles Amid Financial Hardship
Despite the mounting pressure, Dela Cruz continues to drive to avoid hunger while managing maintenance medications for mild diabetes. "It is hard to stop driving because we might not have anything to eat. I myself take maintenance medications, I take a lot of medicine, it is like I have every illness," he said on March 30, 2026. Supporting two children—one in college and another in Grade 4—adds to his burdens, with unchanged fare rates exacerbating the hardship.
Rental Costs and Mounting Losses for Modern PUV Drivers
Rogie Banqueile, 46, a modern public utility vehicle (MPUV) driver, reports that soaring fuel prices have slashed his daily take-home pay to as low as P200 to P300. Operating expenses have surged, with costs reaching up to P5,700 to P6,000 as diesel prices climb to P180 per liter. "We really might just stop driving because why would we continue when we are the ones paying for the losses... It is useless to drive," Banqueile warned, noting that drivers might halt operations if the P3,000 unit rental is not reduced.
Appeals for Government Intervention
Salahodin Sultan, a tricycle driver and PV-Toda 1 vice president in Lapu-Lapu City, highlights how surging fuel prices have cut earnings, forcing many drivers to return to Mindanao. His daily earnings have dropped from about P1,000 to around P300, with higher fuel costs necessitating more frequent refueling. Despite operating different vehicle types, drivers are united in appealing to the National Government for fuel assistance and fare increases to sustain their livelihoods.
The crisis underscores the broader economic impact on transportation workers, who are caught between rising costs and stagnant incomes, risking their health and families' well-being.
