Fuel price surge hits Panay Bukidnon in Capiz

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By Mariela Angella Oladive

Rising fuel prices, driven in part by global market uncertainty tied to tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, are being felt even in remote upland communities, with members of the Panay Bukidnon Indigenous Peoples group in Tapaz, Capiz, saying higher transport fares have limited travel and reduced household spending.

In an interview with Daily Guardian on the sidelines of the Department of Tourism Region 6 Familiarization Tour on April 17, Panay Bukidnon cultural master Rommel Castor said residents of their upland community are struggling with higher fares.

“We are also affected because when we leave our place and reach a barangay with a road where a single motorcycle or habal-habal can pass, the fare now is PHP 500 until we reach the town, then another PHP 500 going back up to the mountain,” Castor explained in the vernacular.

He said the fare is PHP 500 per person for a one-way trip, while a motorcycle carrying three passengers can charge as much as PHP 1,500.

The trip usually takes two to three hours because of rough, pothole-ridden roads.

“That is why when we go down to the town, we make the most of it, and sometimes it takes about a month before we go down again,” he added.

Castor said transportation costs also cut into the amount families can spend on food and other necessities.

“If you bring PHP 2,000 for buying goods, and PHP 1,000 goes to the fare, it means only PHP 1,000 is left to buy the things you need,” he said.

To avoid repeated travel expenses, some residents who go to town for cultural performances or official activities stay there for several days before returning to the uplands.

“For example, when we have performances like this, sometimes we just stay in the town for a few days before going back up to the mountain again,” Castor said.

Despite the challenges, he said local government assistance has reached the community.

The Panay Bukidnon, also known as Suludnon or Tumanduk, are among the largest Indigenous cultural groups in Western Visayas, with communities in the upland areas of Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan and Antique.

They are widely known for preserving the Sugidanon, a traditional chanted epic that recounts the exploits of heroes such as Labaw Donggon, Humadapnon and Dumalapdap.

Tapaz, a first-class municipality and the largest town in Capiz, has 58 barangays, with more than 20 upland villages inhabited by Panay Bukidnon communities.

During the tour at Capiz Ecology Park and Cultural Village, Castor and fellow community members performed the traditional Binanog dance, or panuba, inspired by the movements of the banog bird.

They wore indigenous attire adorned with panubok, a traditional embroidery known for its intricate craftsmanship.

They also shared customary greetings used to welcome visitors.

In recent months, motorists in the country have faced a series of pump price increases, particularly in March and early April, before some rollbacks were implemented.

The Philippines remains vulnerable to global oil shocks because it imports most of its fuel requirements.

Higher fuel prices often raise transportation, logistics and production costs, which can lead to higher fares, more expensive food and commodities, and added inflationary pressure, especially in low-income and geographically isolated communities.