Jeepney drivers anticipate a larger fuel subsidy as a significant oil price hike looms this Tuesday as the Department of Transportation (DoTr) announced that the government is preparing to distribute a P2.5-billion fuel subsidy immediately.

Ariel Suzon, a jeepney driver on the Monumento-Polo route, said while a subsidy would help, it needs to be more substantial than previous aid.

“Before, there was a fuel subsidy of P4,000, however, if these price hikes continue, a subsidy of that amount will not be enough,” Suzon said.

He added that details on the distribution method and exact amounts drivers will receive are still unclear. Suzon believes the subsidy will help drivers stay afloat for now, but if fuel prices continue to rise, they will push for a P5 increase in the minimum fare, raising it from P13 to P18.

Earlier Monday, independent oil companies responded to Department of Energy (DoE) officer-in-charge Sharon Garin’s call to split the anticipated price hike.

“If the increase reaches P5, perhaps we can implement P2.50 first this week, and the remaining amount next week,” said assistant director Rodela Romero of the Oil Industry Management Bureau of the DoE in a radio interview.

Shell, Caltex and Seaoil have announced they will implement their gasoline price increases in two phases. The first increase takes effect on 24 June while the second increase will be on 26 June.

Suzon said splitting the price hike would lessen the immediate impact on public utility drivers.

“That’s okay — it’s actually better that way so the increase won’t be abrupt, and it gives us a bit of time to prepare before the full hike kicks in,” he said.

Once the full price hike is implemented, Suzon expects to lose an additional P200 from his daily income. To compensate, he plans to make an extra trip, which adds about two hours to his workday, potentially keeping him out until 9 p.m.

To mitigate rising costs, Suzon said drivers are refueling their jeepneys at a small-time gasoline distributor that sells diesel for at least P7 less per liter.

Meanwhile, jeepney group PISTON held a protest Monday, advocating for the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law and the suspension of value-added tax and excise tax on oil products to ease the burden of increasing fuel prices.