The Struggle of Tricycle Drivers in Manila
Jayson Naga is a tricycle taxi driver navigating the bustling streets of Manila. On an average day, he manages to bring home around P500 (US$8) to support his four children. However, these days, he finds himself in a tough spot. He requires four litres of gasoline daily to transport his passengers, and the recent 60% increase in fuel prices has significantly cut into his earnings.
“If gas prices go up any further, there will be nothing left for us,” Naga shared with the Guardian. His family’s only luxury—driving to air-conditioned malls on weekends to escape the heat—was the first to be abandoned.
The Philippines heavily relies on crude oil imports from the Middle East. In response to the oil crisis triggered by the conflict in the region, the government declared a national energy emergency, becoming the first country in the world to do so. Public frustration over the government’s handling of rising fuel prices and supply issues has led to widespread protests.
Transport Workers Suffering the Most
Hogan Ruben, another tricycle driver, now spends an extra five hours on the road to make ends meet. “What we do now is head out early and stay out until twelve midnight or one in the morning, just so the income we bring home is enough,” he explained. “We have no choice but to keep grinding,” Ruben added.
On 27 March, President Ferdinand Marcos admitted challenges in securing supplies and assured that the government had secured enough crude oil for domestic processing until 30 June. This assurance comes as the administration seeks alternative sources, including a recent shipment from Russia.
Despite these efforts, public anger towards the government remains high. Last week, transport groups organized two-day nationwide strikes, demanding oil price rollbacks by scrapping fuel excise taxes and the oil deregulation law. Mody Floranda, president of the transport group Piston, criticized Marcos, calling him “inutile.”
A Human Rights Crisis
Edgardo Cabalitan, an NGO worker, described the situation as both a human rights and economic crisis. He joined a noisy demonstration in front of the country’s largest gas station, where passing jeepneys and motorcycle riders blared their horns in solidarity. “The oil crisis is not just an issue of rising costs. It is an issue that directly strikes at human rights. As oil prices rise, the cost of goods follows, affecting not only the livelihoods of drivers but also our very access to basic needs,” Cabalitan said.
Jan Carlo Punongbayan, an assistant professor at the University of the Philippines School of Economics, warned that the crisis will worsen. He estimated that global crude oil prices could reach as much as $200 per barrel. “It’s going to be quite bad, especially the indirect effects of inflation. The [government] is looking at double-digit inflation rates by May. We haven’t seen that level of inflation for many years, not even during the pandemic,” Punongbayan noted.
Food Prices Set to Rise
Food prices are expected to follow suit. While the current harvest season has temporarily mitigated the impact, Punongbayan anticipates rapid increases in food prices in the coming weeks, once the harvest season ends and transport costs rise.
Shoppers have been flocking to grocery stores, filling baskets with basic necessities, reminiscent of pandemic-era panic buying. Social media users are discussing the feasibility of solar panels and electric vehicles. The desperate situation has led to some alarming incidents, such as a driver at a gas station in Quezon City fleeing without paying for a full tank, leaving a nearly $100 bill for the pump attendant.
Community Support Emerges
Back on Maginhawa Street in Quezon City, donations of food packs from members of the public began arriving at the corner where drivers like Naga and Ruben wait for passengers. On Sunday, they each grabbed a pack containing rice, eggs, noodles, canned goods, and a sandwich.
Community pantries, a project initiated by the Maginhawa neighborhood during the pandemic, have returned to offer a lifeline to transport workers. More than a dozen similar community pantries have emerged nationwide. “When we saw that the community pantry was back, it gave us drivers a sense of hope again,” Naga said.
