Bona fide text
Oh, well...
Monday of this week, Juan de la Cruz carries another additional 50 centavo of public utility jeepney (PUJ) fare increase. This would simply mean that another burden is added to the commuters.
Ilonggos are still in the midst of coping stage after the deadly typhoon Frank hit the region and with this news, Ilonggos face another some kind of typhoon.
It is a joke as always when after declaring a P1/liter rollback in gasoline prices that is due a week ago, oil firms admitted this may only be temporary with the possibility of another round of oil price hike next week. A 1-peso rollback is a call for a double or maybe triple oil price hike within a month. It seems that the oil firms are indulged in math tricks that of ratio and "unproportion."
The price of gasoline is getting higher, from P55.00 to P60.00 per liter and cost of LPG per tank increased by P11.00. The successive increase in prices of gasoline and LPG is alarming, thus creating a more chaotic economic life for the consumers like us.
Next in line to increase is the flag down of the taxi, effective July 24, 2008, additional P10.00 is added to the current P30.00 flag down rate. I was riding a jeepney one night and had the chance to talk to the jeepney driver. And he said, if given a chance to become a "kutsero" then he would choose to be one, he can't take the prices of oil products as it continues to increase every week. The increase in fares starting last Monday is not enough considering the oil price hike, he said.
As a result, prices of commodities are also affected. However, the Department of Trade and Industry said that prices of basic commodities should remain at their current levels until September despite the continuous rise in oil prices. DTI Secretary Peter Favila reiterated that manufacturers should not use the recent oil price hikes as a reason to raise the prices of commodities.
According to the news, prices of canned goods also increased since the price of tin—a primary element used in cans—have surged to record levels as exporting countries have curbed shipments amid high demand. Prices of tin have surged by more than half since last year.
I had my groceries last week and I noted that there is P0.35–P0.40 increase in the prices of some canned goods, particularly sardines, corned beef, and meat loaf.
Department of Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes mentioned that they are more vigilant these days because there are some oil firms that increase their prices unreasonably.
With the happenings in the country right now, I always ponder to this question: "What's next in the Philippine economic scene?"
An ordinary consumer like me would definitely feel the increase in fare, LPG and prime commodities. Sometimes, we let the conscience of these oil companies work, for them to realize the burden that they have caused us. Unreasonable increase of petroleum products generates more profit on their part. No wonder engaging in oil business is a boom nowadays. Oh, well...