CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Public utility jeepney (PUJ) and taxi drivers in Cagayan de Oro are bracing for another blow to their earnings after a major fuel price hike took effect Tuesday, raising fears that continued increases could make it even harder to provide for their families.
Starting Tuesday, July 21, diesel prices increased by ₱10.68 per liter, kerosene by ₱11.77 per liter, and gasoline by ₱3.65 per liter, according to Energy Secretary Sharon Garin.
For Mervin Gapulo, a 40-year-old taxi driver, the latest adjustment is another setback as fuel costs continue to climb while transport fares remain unchanged.
"Sa una, balos-balos ra man ang price adjustments. Mo-increase ug piso unya ang rollback kay mga 50 sentimos lang. Halos kada Martes naa gyud usahay gasolina ang mosaka, unya sa sunod semana diesel na pud," Gapulo said.
He said the continued increases are becoming harder for drivers to absorb because fuel costs keep rising while fares remain the same.
"Kung magpadayon ni, lisod na kaayo sa amo. Gasaka ang presyo sa gasolina ug diesel, pero pareho ra gihapon among plete," he added.
Gapulo said many drivers are worried that if fuel prices continue to climb, they will have to work longer hours just to earn enough for their daily expenses and support their families.
As part of an earlier government assistance program, 281 taxi drivers in Cagayan de Oro City received a one-time ₱5,000 fuel subsidy on April 8, 2026. The distribution, led by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-10, was carried out under the Department of Transportation's fuel assistance program in compliance with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to help transport workers cope with rising fuel prices.
Despite the assistance provided in April, drivers said the one-time subsidy may no longer be enough if fuel prices continue to rise in the coming weeks, especially since transport fares have remained unchanged.
To protect consumers from possible profiteering, the Department of Energy (DOE) has reinstated stricter fuel pricing measures. Garin also appealed to oil companies to implement the latest price adjustments in a staggered manner this week to lessen the immediate burden on motorists and public transport operators.
The latest adjustment is among the biggest weekly fuel price increases this year, prompting many motorists in Cagayan de Oro to top up their tanks before the new pump prices took effect. (Ben Balce, Editorial Lead)
