ALBAY, Philippines – Amid soaring fuel prices driven by the United States and Israel’s war on Iran, Bicol workers and drivers are calling on the government to suspend fuel taxes and implement urgent relief measures.

Roentgen Dolz Armenta, a work-from-home employee in Legazpi City, Albay, decried the sudden surge in the cost of living. He noted that skyrocketing fuel prices have caused a severe ripple effect across almost all goods and services, gravely affecting the working class.

“Working from home does not shield us from these rising costs. In fact, because we rely heavily on electricity and household utilities for work, the impact can be very direct,” Armenta said. “Cooking gas, for instance, has significantly increased in price. The least expensive option now is around P1,100, which used to be considered one of the higher price ranges before the hikes.”

Like him, Alyssah Hugo, a young professional from Nabua, Camarines Sur, shared how inflation has forced her to drastically cut back on expenses, including transportation and socializing. She noted that her modest entry-level income is now almost entirely consumed by shared household necessities.

“We already cut expenses, especially transportation, as much as we can. Although our food expenses are shared in our house, the recent price surge still left us in a tight spot with budgeting,” Hugo shared. “Now, we are also compelled not to see our friends as often because we have to prioritize basic commodities instead of dining out.”

Both Hugo and Armenta highlighted the stark difference in the cost of living over just a short period. They emphasized that while the US-Iran conflict is a catalyst, the crisis exposes the Philippines’ urgent need for stricter oil price regulation and smarter energy management.

“Many of us are hoping for stronger and more responsive action from our leaders,” Armenta said. “There is a real need for fair and well-planned regulation of oil prices and energy resources — policies that protect both workers and ordinary citizens, while ensuring accessible and reliable power for everyone.”

Based on Philippine market statistics from 2020 to 2026, gasoline prices have gone up from P47.45 per liter to at least P75.55 for premium variants, while diesel has reached a minimum of P89.40 per liter. This P28.10 per liter increase over six years pushed fuel prices past their 2022 peak.

On Tuesday, March 10, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin confirmed that the impending oil price hike will be the highest in history (READ: Oil jumps to 2022 high on Iran war, falls after close as Russia sanctions in doubt)

Transport crisis

Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) national vice president and Bicol spokesperson Ramon Rescovilla urged the government to immediately suspend the excise tax and value-added tax (VAT) on fuel to provide immediate relief.

“Ngunyan ngani na nasa P89 na an presyo kada litro, agrangay na an mga driver. Kaya ang panawagan namin sa gobyerno ay suspension na ang excise tax at e-VAT para sa gasolina para maibsan na an kahalangkaw kan presyo kan mga produktong petrolyo,” Rescovilla said. 

(Even now that the price is at P89 per liter, drivers are already groaning. That is why we are calling on the government to suspend the excise tax and e-VAT on gasoline to cushion the high prices of petroleum products.)

He calculated that drivers are losing around P870 a day — or roughly P21,750 a month — due to exorbitant fuel costs worsened by the excise tax. He noted that this lost income could have been a huge help for their families’ daily expenses (READ: [Ask the Tax Whiz] Managing fuel costs: How gov’t can support consumers amid rising oil prices)

Aside from the fuel price hikes, Rescovilla pointed out that the government’s four-day workweek setup poses an even greater challenge. He explained that the measure reduces commuter volume, slashing drivers’ potential income by another 15% to 20%.

“Ang mali naman diyan ay siyempre ang mapupuruhan niyan ay ang transport groups. Nawawalan na kami ng pasahero, agrangay na nga kami sa presyo ng gasolina, lugi pa kami sa biyahe,” he argued.

(The problem here is that the transport groups are taking the hardest hit. We are losing passengers, we are suffering from high gas prices, and we are operating at a loss).

Workweek setup

As of Monday, March 16, various provincial and local government units (LGUs) across Bicol already adopted the four-day workweek setup based on Malacañang’s Memorandum Order No. 114:

• Albay: The Albay provincial government adopted a four-day on-site workweek setup, designating Friday for a work-from-home schedule effective March 16. The provincial government, however, assured that offices handling public safety and disaster preparedness will remain operational 24/7 despite the new work arrangement.
• Camarines Sur: The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) – Camarines Sur announced on Thursday, March 12, a compressed work schedule for government offices from Monday to Thursday, 7 am to 7 pm. The office declared Friday a non-working day.
• Naga City: The Naga City government compressed the workweek schedule to Monday to Thursday, from 7 am to 6 pm. The city also declared Fridays a non-working day.
• Camarines Norte: The Camarines Norte provincial government adopted the compressed four-day workweek schedule from Monday to Thursday starting last week, March 9. The majority of the LGUs operate from 8 am to 7 pm, while Paracale, Capalonga, and Sta. Elena set their work schedules from 6 am to 7 pm.
• Catanduanes: The Catanduanes provincial government adopted the four-day workweek from Monday to Thursday, 7 am to 6 pm. In a memo dated Tuesday, March 10, the province mandated all offices to follow the new setup, excluding offices providing essential and frontline services.
• Masbate: The Masbate provincial government mandated a four-day workweek schedule starting Monday, March 16. The memo, released on Friday, March 6, also included directives on the use of air-conditioning and other office equipment to conserve energy.
• Sorsogon: The Sorsogon provincial government ordered the four-day on-site workweek on Wednesday, March 11. The province designated Mondays to Thursdays from 8 am to 5 pm for on-site work, while designating Fridays for a work-from-home setup.

However, for Rescovilla, the solution lies in the government’s review of the law and existing fuel taxes, not a workweek shift.

He said, “Hindi ’yan ang solusyon. Ang kailangan natin ay ang pagrepaso sa Oil Deregulation Law, fuel excise tax, at e-VAT na mas nagpapahirap sa mga driver, riders, at consumers.”

(This [four-day workweek] is not the solution. What we need is a review of the Oil Deregulation Law, the fuel excise tax, and the e-VAT, which are only making life harder for drivers, riders, and consumers) –Rappler.com