DUMAGUETE, Philippines — When alias “Eboy,” a 40-year-old tricycle driver, claimed his first set of fuel subsidy coupons on Thursday, March 26, he already knew how far it can sustain him amid the soaring fuel prices brought by war in the Middle East.

“Kung buot huna-hunaon, kulang jud siya pero ma’y na lang pud. Kanang ₱100, dugangan na lang nako og ₱300,” he said. 

(If you think about it, it’s really not enough, but at least it helps. That ₱100, I’ll just add ₱300 more.)

The Dumaguete City Government on Wednesday, March 25, kicked-off the roll out of its fuel subsidy program amounting to ₱10 million to help local tricycle and jeepney drivers cope with rising oil prices.  

The aid is only meant for Dumaguete-resident drivers who will receive ₱700 worth of coupons to offset a week of fuel expenses. 

At least 1,900 registered drivers are eligible for the subsidy program, based on the most recent data from the Traffic Management Office (TMO). 

“Karon wala sa’y [fare] increase pero adunay subsidy ang city government na muhatag og 1 liter [worth of coupon] a day para sa pagsupport sa ilang gasolina daily,” TMO head Danilo Atillo said, clarifying that there is no executive order for a five-peso fare hike in the city. 

But for drivers like “Eboy,” the government support feels more like a stopgap than a solution.

On most days, he spends ₱400 to ₱500 daily on gasoline driving his route to Barangay Cadawinonan and Balugo, outlying communities, and back to the city proper. 

“Kung dili lang musaka og ayo ang gasolina, makatabang gyud na siya,” he said, noting that the subsidy barely covers a fraction of his daily fuel expenses.

(If fuel prices don’t rise too much, it can really help.)

Same help, different story

For Abondo Nadal, a jeepney driver for almost two decades, the current situation is unlike any he has faced before.

“Karon moy pinakalisod jud,” he said, recalling when fuel at ₱58 per liter already felt expensive. 

(This is the hardest time.)

Now, with gas prices climbing up to ₱100, the margins have all but disappeared.

“Siyempre na-aksyon og kaguol kay ang imong income makuwaan man. Katong ginansya unta, mapadong na sa gasolina,” he lamented.

(Of course you feel disheartened because your income shrinks. What used to be a profit now goes to fuel.)

When asked about the subsidy program, Nadal shared he had only learned about it through TMO and planned to claim his coupons next week. 

Plying his route back and forth Dumaguete and Cadawinonan, his vehicle consumes around ₱1,200 to ₱1,300 worth of fuel every week.

However, under the current subsidy scheme, Nadal and other jeepney drivers will receive the same daily amount as smaller tricycle vehicles.

“Medyo nakatabang na siya sa amoha pero gamay ra gyud. Dako-dako man ni amoha pero gi-equal ra man tanan,” Nadal said, adding that a higher subsidy of ₱200 a day would make a difference for them in the jeepney sector. 

(It helps a bit, but it’s really small. Our vehicles are bigger, but everything is treated equally.)

P5,000-fuel subsidy vs food

Drivers like “Eboy” and Nadal will be the first to receive the recently-approved P5,000 nationwide fuel subsidy for the transportation sector led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. 

According to Edmar Santos, drivers’ sectoral desk manager, they target to begin the roll out by April 8, once they finish listing and sorting out all eligible recipients.

“Walay pili. Maski dili taga Dumaguete as long as sa Dumaguete sila gapuyo, and as long as maka-comply sila sa requirements,” Santos explained.

(No preference. Even if they are not from Dumaguete, as long as they live in Dumaguete, and as long as they comply with the requirements.)

When asked where they will spend the financial aid, “Eboy” and Nadal have a similar decision: It will go to rice, not to fuel. 

As the sole provider for his family and three schoolchildren, “Eboy” said: “Maayo na lamang na palitan og usa ka sako nga bugas, ipondo sa balay.”

(It’s better to buy a sack of rice, and store it at home.)

Nadal echoed the same sentiment, stating that while the ₱5,000 sounds big, it would only make sense if given in bulk.

“Makapalit man ta og bugas ana, pero og mapareha aning fuel [subsidy] na tag ₱100 kada adlaw, then ₱700 [per week], […], ultimo ginamos [fermented fish paste] maglisod gali ta ana,” he stressed, referring to the city’s current subsidy program. 

(We can buy rice for it, but if it would be the same as fuel that costs ₱100 per day, then ₱700 [per week], […], we even struggle to buy fermented fish paste.) 

The ₱10-million government subsidy is expected to last until May 2026. But as fuel prices continue to soar, community drivers in Dumaguete are left to stretch every peso, whether for gasoline or for more pressing necessities for them to survive. – Rappler.com

Kean Bagaipo is a Mover and student journalist based in Dumaguete City.