Cebu Jeepney Drivers Say Fuel Shock Is Wiping Out Their Kita

Jeepney drivers in Cebu joined the nationwide transport strike on March 19, saying the latest fuel hikes have pushed their daily earnings to the edge and made it harder to provide for their families.

Rappler reported that drivers who used to bring home at least around P900 a day are now down to roughly P300 after paying for fuel and other operating expenses. For many of them, the job is no longer just low-margin — talagang lugi na, or close to it.

Transport group Piston Cebu said diesel had climbed to about P120 per liter, forcing some drivers to spend as much as P3,600 a day on fuel alone. The group argued that instead of earning a decent income, drivers are now being forced to shoulder losses just to keep operating.

The protest in Cebu formed part of a broader nationwide action led by Piston, which has been pressing the government to respond more aggressively to soaring oil prices. The complaint from drivers is simple: every fare collected is being eaten up by pump prices before they can even take money home.

For passengers, the strike is another sign that the oil crisis is hitting far beyond fuel stations. For transport workers, meanwhile, the issue is becoming a survival problem, with many saying they can no longer sustain their routes if prices keep climbing.

Source: Rappler