Ilonggo households feel the fuel squeeze

By Mariela Angella Oladive

As global oil prices continue to climb, driven in part by ongoing tensions in the Middle East, households and workers in Iloilo are rethinking daily routines and spending to cope with rising fuel and liquefied petroleum gas costs.

The Philippines, a net oil importer, remains vulnerable to global supply disruptions, and industry projections indicate another round of fuel price increases this week, with diesel prices possibly nearing PHP 150 per liter.

The cost of an 11-kilogram LPG tank may also rise to around PHP 1,500 by April, according to the LPG Marketers Association.

Rosario, a resident of Dueñas who relies on LPG to cook for her three grandchildren, said they may return to charcoal or firewood if prices continue to rise.

“If the budget can no longer handle it, we are willing to go back to charcoal or firewood,” she told the Daily Guardian.

She added that with schools located far from their home, transportation costs have also become harder to manage.

To cope, she now limits trips and carefully budgets fare, sometimes adjusting other household expenses.

The strain on household budgets is also being felt by workers whose livelihoods depend on mobility.

Aenemar, a high school teacher who commutes by motorcycle between San Enrique and Anilao, said his fuel expenses have more than doubled.

“Before, I could fill my motorcycle with around PHP 120. Now it’s about PHP 250,” he said.

“Sometimes I turn off the engine when I’m coasting just to save fuel.”

In Iloilo City Proper, 46-year-old Rene Samson, an ice cream vendor for 16 years, said volatile fuel prices are cutting into already thin margins.

“You don’t know when prices will increase again — it just happens suddenly,” he said.

To cope, Samson seeks out cheaper gasoline stations and limits his daily fuel use to 1 to 2 liters, often staying longer in one area to reduce travel.

“Before, I could earn up to PHP 1,500 to PHP 2,000 a day. Now, almost 50% of my income goes to expenses — not just fuel, but also other goods that have become more expensive,” he said.

Transport workers are likewise seeing their earnings eroded.

Kurt Gamacinao, a tourist van driver from Santa Barbara, said fuel costs have nearly doubled, sharply reducing take-home income.

“Before, we spent around PHP 1,300 to PHP 1,800 a day on fuel. Now, it’s almost double. Our profit used to reach PHP 800 to PHP 1,000, but now it can drop to PHP 300,” he said.

Like many drivers, he now turns off the engine while waiting at destinations to conserve fuel.

If prices continue to rise, Gamacinao said he may be forced to stop operating.

“At some point, it may no longer be sustainable for me. I might have to stop and look for another job,” he added.

While the government is set to roll out fuel subsidies for public utility vehicle drivers, those in the tourist transport sector are not included.

Small businesses are also preparing for possible increases, particularly those that rely on LPG.

Juliet Bascoguin, 66, owner of 9J’s Bakery, said higher LPG prices could affect daily operations.

Instead of raising prices, Bascoguin said they are considering reducing the size of their bread products to keep them affordable.

“We’re trying to avoid price increases because we know our customers are also struggling,” she said, adding that the plan is still under discussion with her siblings, who co-manage the business.

As global uncertainties continue to push fuel prices upward, the burden of adjustment is falling largely on households and small earners, underscoring the need for sustained support for vulnerable sectors.