Group on recent fuel price rollbacks: ‘Mura rag bata nga gihatagan og candy’

Local

WHILE fuel prices have recorded recent rollbacks, transport groups in Cebu pressed the government calling for deeper reductions, subsidy reforms, and the repeal of oil deregulation policies.

Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) Cebu led the third strike in just over a month, with coordinated protest actions deployed across Cebu City and nearby areas before converging in Colon Street for a unified program.

Piston Cebu president Greg Perez said the rollback resulted from sustained protests but stressed that the reduction remained inadequate for transport workers, who continue to shoulder high fuel costs.

He said drivers remain heavily burdened by fuel expenses that take up a large share of daily income, leaving many with minimal earnings after expenses.

Perez said oil companies continue to adjust prices frequently under the Oil Deregulation Law, which he said weakens government control and leaves consumers exposed to global market fluctuations.

"Karon gi rollback, pwede gihapon mu increase ugma, kay naa sa mga oil cartel ang kontrol sa lana," Perez said.

He added that fuel price movements remain unstable despite recent rollbacks, with costs still far from levels that could restore drivers’ lost income.

The Oil Deregulation Law refers to Republic Act 8479, enacted in 1998, which liberalized the downstream oil industry in the Philippines.

It removed direct government control over fuel pricing and allowed oil companies to adjust pump prices based on global crude oil movements, foreign exchange rates, and market conditions.

Perez said jeepney drivers in Cebu continue to experience reduced take-home pay whenever fuel prices rise, with earnings shrinking significantly after operating costs are deducted.

He also said global crude oil movements and currency changes continue to drive local fuel prices, reinforcing what he described as structural vulnerability under deregulation.

Despite recent reductions, Perez said the current pricing levels still fail to ease the financial pressure on transport workers in the province.

A jeepney driver June Lauron, a member of Piston Cebu, described the rollback as minimal and temporary, comparing it to giving small, short-lived relief that is quickly taken back.

"Ang rollback nga ginagmay nila kay mura rag bata nga gihatagan og candy— ginagmay ra," he said.

Howell Villacrucis, secretary general of Alyansa sa mga Mamumuo sa Sugbo - KMU, said that in recent years, especially during the outbreak of war, oil price increases in just one month allowed a major oil company to earn what would normally take a year.

He added that this situation explains why the administration refused a fare hike due to concerns over wage increase demands from workers.

He also said that alongside calls to bring down fuel prices to reduce the cost of basic goods, workers are pushing for a P1,392 living wage.

Oil companies implemented another round of rollbacks last Tuesday, cutting gasoline by P3.41 per liter, diesel by P24.94 per liter, and kerosene by P2 per liter.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the Department of Energy is guiding price adjustments under a national energy emergency, setting allowable ranges for increases and rollbacks.

The DOE also reported higher oil inventory levels, with more fuel shipments expected in the coming weeks.(MyTVCebu)