Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Allison Co

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Motorcycle taxi riders and TNVS drivers extend their working hours beyond 15 hours but still struggle to make ends meet as fuel prices have steadily risen in recent weeks.  Twenty-eight year old MC rider Mirasol Riñon is the breadwinner of her family. With the recent economy, she struggles to pay for the schooling of her eight siblings back in Bicol.“Ang lakas ng impact sa amin. Kasi yung mga commuters na minsan nagbobook sa amin, mas ginugusto na lang nila mag-jeep or mag-bus para friendly budget na rin. Para hindi na maka-apekto ang budget nila. Kasi kawawa kami mga rider.”<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/20/middle-east-war-global-economic-fallout-1336">Middle East war: global economic fallout</a></div>On top of high gas prices, Riñon also said gas stations now have a minimum policy for online payments. “Then sabi nila sa akin, 200 yung minimum kapag online payment. Sir, paano pa yung rider, walang ito 200 sa QR payment? Paano yun? Tapos sinagot ako nung crew nila, hindi na namin problema yun. Bala, ayun, dun yun. Tapos, sir, paano... Paano kami mga rider?,” she added.  MC riders Delmir Lagaresa and Jefferson Gaymo also criticized the government’s decision not to raise fares despite the surge in gas prices, adding that they have yet to receive any fuel subsidies. “Lugi talaga kami sa biyahe, lalo na pag mababa lang yung fare,” Lagaresa said. To cope with rising fuel costs, Gaymo stays on the road from 5 am until around 11 pm before heading home. “Dati 200 lang yung ginagas ko, ngayon 400 na para nadoble…meron ako pinaparal dalawa. Ang masasabi ko lang, habahabaan lang yung oras sa pagbiyahe,” he said. For TNVS driver Ariel Escalon, the pressure is even greater. With a newborn baby at home, he has been on the road since 8 p.m. the previous night, hoping to earn enough to bring home a profit. “Sa loob ng 8 years ma&#x27;am, ngayon ko lang naranasan itong sobrang hirap na pagpasada. Kahit magkumayod ka ng kumayod, pagdating ng gabi, maggagasolina ka, halos makakalahati lang, nakukuha. Eh, maintenance pa, tapos monthly ang sasakyan mo. Talagang kahit operator ka ngayon, wala talagang, wala talagang makukuha,” Escalon said, adding how even being a TNVS operator with his own car is not enough. Ariel’s cousin, Edward Escalon’s situation is further complicated by the nature of his work. As a commissioned TNVS driver, he not only gives a portion of his earnings to his operator but also shoulders company commission fees ranging from 10 to 20 percent. “Ang nagagastos namin araw-araw, malaki. Umaabot. Dating 1,100 na yung gasolina, ngayon 1,700 na. Kapag nagtaas pa yan, wala na kami kikitain,” Edward said. He has been on the road since 5 am and plans to head home by 11 pm, all to earn around P400 a day. The financial strain has taken a toll on his family. “Dalawang college ko, isang senior high. Ngayon, yung pangalawa ko tumigil, gawa nga ng ganyan. Wala na maibayad eh, kasi tuition,” he added.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/20/double-digit-price-hikes-for-diesel-gasoline-loom-again-next-week-1354">Double digit price hikes for diesel, gasoline loom again next week</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/20/double-digit-price-hikes-for-diesel-gasoline-loom-again-next-week-1354"></a></div>To cope with rising fuel costs, both drivers try to conserve gas by parking their vehicles while waiting for bookings and extending their working hours. As of Thursday, with premium cost considered, diesel prices are projected to rise by another P15 per liter, while gasoline will be up P12 next week.  Senate Ad Hoc Committee Head Senator Win Gatchalian described the situation an “oil crisis.” This was contradicted by the Malacañang, citing how the country is not facing a lack of supply in petroleum products.  “Sa ngayon, hindi pa po kasi nakikita ng Pangulo ang ganyang sitwasyon. Dahil patuloy naman po tayong umaangkat at nakakakuha po po ng supply ng produkto ng petrolyo… Pero ang gustong ipadama kasi ng Pangulo sa ating mga kababayan ay hindi kailangang magpanik,” said Presidential spokesperson Claire Castro.“Ako masasabi ko oil crisis to dahil antagal na e, ito ay pang 22nd day na itong ad hoc committee na ito kukunin suhestyon ng ibat ibang ahensiya para sa komprehensibong plano,” he said in a DZMM interview on Saturday, March 21.  Gatchalian added that the bill suspending fuel excise taxes has already been submitted to the President.  “Ito ay standby lang naman kung gagamitin ng Pangulo, maraming tools na pwede gamitin sa ngayon nagbibigay tayo subsidy. Gaya sa singapore, ihuhuli suspension ng incentives at taxes,” he said.  The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced that March 24 is the start for the roll-out of cash relief assistance for MC taxi riders and TNVS drivers.  But for public utility drivers, these short-term aids are not enough.<div> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/20/fuel-hikes-force-lifestyle-changes-1939">Fuel hikes force lifestyle changes</a></div> “Ang panawagan lang naman namin, kahit hindi ayuda ang ibigay, sana yung pangmatagalan na solusyon ba. Kasi araw-araw kami, isa yung ayuda. Mga 3 days, 5 days, ubos na yan eh. Yung matagalang solusyon, yun ang ano nila, yung tipong kahit yung mga tax, tanggalin mo na nila sa gasolina para kahit pa paano bumaba siya,” Escalon said. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said Friday that he was considering &quot;winding down&quot; military operations against Iran, as the US temporarily eased sanctions on Iranian oil shipments to stem a global supply crisis.  “[The US is] getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East,” he said in a post on Truth Social.

Motorcycle taxi riders and TNVS drivers extend their working hours beyond 15 hours but still struggle to make ends meet as fuel prices have steadily risen in recent weeks.

Motorcycle taxi riders and TNVS drivers extend their working hours beyond 15 hours but still struggle to make ends meet as fuel prices have steadily risen in recent weeks.

Fuel price surge forces MC, TNVS drivers to work longer hours

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Fuel price surge forces MC, TNVS drivers to work longer hours

Allison Co,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 21, 2026 07:29 PM PHT

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Oil prices

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Middle East

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