Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Johnson Manabat

ABS-CBN News

<div style="text-align:center"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F26098338546503934%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden;--darkreader-inline-border-top:0px;--darkreader-inline-border-right:0px;--darkreader-inline-border-bottom:0px;--darkreader-inline-border-left:0px" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" data-darkreader-inline-border-top="" data-darkreader-inline-border-right="" data-darkreader-inline-border-bottom="" data-darkreader-inline-border-left=""></iframe><br/></div><p>MANILA — A commuters group launched a “Kusinang Bayan” on Monday to provide free food to public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers amid continuously soaring prices of petroleum products.</p><p>PARA Commuters&#x27; Network convener Nanoy Rafael said this is their way of giving back and helping PUJ drivers to survive the crisis brought about by war in the Middle East affecting oil prices, especially diesel being used by jeepney drivers.</p><p>“Itong Kusinang Bayan ay bahagi ng malawak naming relief efforts… Nakita naman natin lugmok na lugmok ang kalagayan ng mga tsuper dahil na rin sa napakataas na presyo ng langis. Dahil don, gutom talaga ang aabutin nila... Magkatali ang sikmura ng tsuper at ng commuter — kapag nagutom ang tsuper, walang masasakyan ang mga commuter,” Rafael told reporters.</p><p>Rafael admitted they have limited resources to feed as much PUJ drivers as they want, but through the help of its donors, the group is trying to sustain the needs of drivers at least in the area of Agoncillo in Manila.</p><p>“Ito ay pang-sustain natin sa tuloy-tuloy nating laban. Laban ng mga tsuper, laban ng mga tsuper, laban ng mga commuter dito sa wala pang katapusang krisis sa langis at kawalan pa rin ng tugon ng gobyerno sa nakaamba nating krisis sa transportasyon,” Rafael added.</p><p>This is the first “Kusinang Bayan” of the group and Rafael said they are hoping to expand this program in other parts of Metro Manila.</p><p>“Kumakalap kami ng donasyon, so yung maliliit ang donasyon… P5, P10 hanggang sa malalaki, may nagdo-donate sa&#x27;min P1,000, yun yung iniipon namin para makapaglunsad nitong kusina. Maliit pa yung nakakalap namin, so naisip namin… sa halip na relief goods na medyo mahal, naisip namin na i-stretch muna siya so &#x27;yung maliit naming pondo. Nasa P3,000 hanggang P4,000 pa lang yung nakakalap namin donasyon, nakapagpakain kami ng kulang-kulang 100 tsuper ngayong araw,” said Rafael.</p><p>According to Rafael, the group coined this initiative as “Commuter Pantry” that aims to support the needs of the commuters and public utility drivers.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/4/5/community-pantry-aids-padyak-drivers-in-tabaco-city-1252">Community pantry aids padyak drivers in Tabaco City</a></div><p>“Last week ay meron na tayong mga commuter pantries, sa iba&#x27;t ibang rehiyon. Naglunsad yung Baguio Commuters&#x27; Network, sa Iloilo at sa Davao. Dito sa NCR, naglunsad agad tayo ng ilang mga instant relief sa tulong na rin ng ating mga networks,” said Rafael.</p><p>One of the beneficiaries of the group includes PUJ driver Ronnie Ybañez, who has been driving PUJ in Manila for almost three decades. </p><p>“Baka sunod na linggo sir, baka wala nang bibiyahe dito sa amin… Kasi kada ikot namin, napupunta lang sa diesel. Minsan, ikot kami P400. Bawat ikot namin P350 na eh,” Ybañez told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>Ybañez thanked the sponsor of their lunch for today and said this is a big help to cope with the weekly big-time oil price increases.</p><p>“Siyempre sir, laking tulong… kasi nakalibre na kami. Di &#x27;ba nakalibre na kami ng pagkain. Kung bibili pa kami, P80, P100, ito nakalibre na kami — siyempre masaya. Malaking tulong ‘to kasi nabigyan kami ng pagkain, sana bukas ulit,” said Ybañez.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/27/puv-drivers-welcome-aid-from-community-pantry-amid-high-fuel-prices-1233">PUV drivers welcome aid from community pantry amid high fuel prices</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>SOARING OIL PRICES, HARDER THAN PANDEMIC</strong></div><p>Meantime, PUJ driver James Luther Budlat, who also received a free meal in Manila, compared their situation now to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p>Budlat told ABS-CBN News, unlike during the pandemic, prices of diesel are much cheaper compared today.</p><p>“Nung pandemic, kahit siyaman — naging kabilaan, apat-apat medyo nagbawas pero ang diesel naman nun kahit papano, mababa. Kahit papano, hindi ka takot kasi mababa yung diesel. Ngayon, ‘pag masilat ka — diesel mo P150, talagang talo ka,” Budlat explained.</p><p>“Napupunta na lang sa diesel, mas mahirap ngayon… diskarte ko lang sir, dati nag-delivery rider,” Budlat added.</p><p>According to him, he really needs to work double since two of his four children are now in college.</p><p>“Kasi ako dalawa college ko, pagkain pa sa bahay, bahay pa. Asawa ko walang trabaho, ako lang kumakayod. Kaya ngayon, diskarte-diskarte na lang,” Budlat said.</p><p>Both Ybañez and Budlat are able to ply their routes through the Libreng Sakay program of the Manila LGU.  </p><p>“Kaya pa ngayon, kasi may libre pang sakay, pag wala mahirap na sir. Pag P170 na yan, wala na. Pahirapan na lang. Kawawa kaming mga jeepney driver,” Budlat said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/4/drivers-delivery-riders-call-for-long-term-solutions-as-fuel-prices-shrink-income-1353">Drivers, delivery riders call for long-term solutions as fuel prices shrink income</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j9sQrWu9UZQ?si=8jPxf-0VuIwzsveT" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>A commuters group launched a “Kusinang Bayan” on Monday to provide free food to public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers amid continuously soaring prices of petroleum products.</p>

A commuters group launched a “Kusinang Bayan” on Monday to provide free food to public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers amid continuously soaring prices of petroleum products.

Commuters group launches free meals for jeepney drivers

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Commuters group launches free meals for jeepney drivers

Johnson Manabat,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 06, 2026 04:36 PM PHT

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Updated April 06, 2026 07:31 PM PHT

Read More:

PARA Commuters' Network

Nanoy Rafael

community pantry

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