Palace appeals to jeep drivers, operators not to suspend ops

Groups of jeepney drivers and operators have long been complaining about continuous oil price hikes, especially since they are dependent on their daily income. (File photo: Yannes Kiefer/Unsplash)

MANILA – Amid continued soaring of fuel prices, Malacañang on Monday appealed to public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers and operators not to push through with their plan to suspend nationwide jeepney operations this week.

“Nanawagan kami sa mga tsuper at mga operator ng mga jeep na huwag ituloy ang kanilang planong tigil pasada ngayon linggo (We appeal to jeep drivers and operators not to push through with their plan to suspend operations this week),” Acting presidential spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a press statement.

Andanar assured that the government is doing everything it can to cushion the impact of the rising fuel prices caused by tight supply in the global oil market.

He touted continuous efforts to roll out the Department of Transportation’s fuel subsidy for beneficiaries.

“Nasa mahigit 180,000 public utility vehicle operators ang nabigyan na ng fuel subsidy, as of June 1, 2022, ayon sa Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (Around 180,000 public utility vehicle operators have been given fuel subsidy, as of June 1, 2022, according to LTFRB),” he added.

Groups of jeepney drivers and operators have long been complaining about continuous oil price hikes, especially since they are dependent on their daily income.

According to transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide, most PUJ drivers earn just PHP300 a day or barely enough to feed their families.

The government has so far released multi-billion peso fund assistance to the transport sector.

The Department of Energy earlier warned that the average local retail prices of fuel may soar to a high of PHP100 per liter once the international price of oil reaches USD200 a barrel.

Currently, the average retail price is at PHP70 per liter.