Due to fears of a major supply crunch for petroleum, fuel prices are expected to spike this week – and by spike, we’re talking about a possible double-digit price hike. The price increase could range between P11.75 and P11.95 per liter for diesel, P6.90 to P7.20 per liter for gasoline, and P9.70 to P9.80 per liter for kerosene. With that in mind, it’s probably a good idea to conserve fuel for now.
So with fuel prices expected to spike this week, what are people doing to work around it?
POP! decided to ask around: What will you scale back on now that gas prices are expected to increase this week?
“Since gas prices are rising so much I think my traveling schedule will be restricted. I’ll be planning the trips instead of impromptu trips. I also anticipate grocery items to increase in price, in relation to the increasing gas prices. So I guess I have to stock up on grocery items as well.” – PJ, 22, BPO worker / Student
“Besides the means of transportation, I think the gas price hike would cause a domino effect on many things such as food and package deliveries. With my family being entirely WFH, I think we would now have to load up our essentials back at home to avoid spending gas. It’s like going back to another strict lockdown.” – Ju, 21, Marketing Intern
“Every time na may errands ako at may madadaanan na gasoline station I compare the prices ng gas. Mula nung nakita ko yung pag double ng price I start making alternative to lessen possible expenses like if kayang mag commute nalang di na need gamitin sasakyan kasi mas tipid sya and if di naman maiwasan gamitin sasakyan I don’t use the aircon para malessen yung pagconsume ng gas. Mas naless din yung pag labas ko and sometimes planned ahead na yung pag gamit ng car para sabay sabay na ang need gawin and di na palabas labas.”
(Every time I have errands and there’s a gasoline station along the way I compare the prices of gas. From the moment I saw the price doubling I started making [alternatives] to lessen possible expenses like if I can commute I won’t need to use a car since it’s cheaper to do so, and if I really have to use my car I don’t use the [air conditioning] in order to lessen the consumption of gas. [The fuel price hike] has also lessened how often I go out and sometimes when I do need my car it’s planned ahead so that I can do everything I need to do without having to go out a lot.) – Dennett, 22, Student
“Iwasan ko na mag punta sa malls lalo pag wala naman important errands. Kung pupunta man ako mag commute na lang ako or sasabay na lang ako sa parents ko. Instead na mag dala pa ako ng car or mag hiwalay pa kami ng car, syempre para tipid sa gas.”
(I’ll avoid going to malls, especially when there aren’t any important errands. If ever I would go I’ll just commute or I’ll go with my parents. Instead of bringing my own car or traveling in separate cars so as to save up on gas, of course.) – Carla, 21, Student
“Usually I take the car everywhere I go, no matter what the distance. But because of the gas price hike, I will be commuting often to places. I will also consider walking if feasible to add a little exercise while saving up some money.” – Matthew, 23, Product Management Associate
“Every week we have to deliver our parcels to the nearest courier branch. We use a vehicle for convenience whenever we drop off our items. But with the gas price increase, we opt to arrange a ‘pick-up’ option wherein the delivery rider will just have to pick up all our parcels in our house then they will be the one dropping them off [at] the warehouse. Instead of us consuming gas, we just decided to change our routine through arranging this kind of transaction to save money and energy.” – Deng, 23, Student / Entrepreneur
“Less spending on leisure things/activities.” – Angela, 15, high school student
“Magbike na lang.” (I’ll just use a bike.) – Dan, 29, business owner
“Syempre hindi ako gagamit ng kotse para makatipid magcocommute na lang ako. Kung kailangan ko talaga gamitin kotse, babawasan ko mga unnecessary expenses and dun ko ililipat sa pangbili ng gas, eh di parang ganun parin expenses ko.”
(Of course, I won’t use a car so I can save, I’ll just commute. If I really need to use a car, I’ll cut back on unnecessary expenses and use that money for purchasing gas, but then that means my expenses would be just about the same.) – Bea, 25, business owner
“Bawasan ang gala, stay at home na lang.” (I’ll cut back on going out and just stay at home.) – Benilda, 72
“Mababawasan ang mabibili sa grocery.” (I’ll have to buy less from the grocery.) – Meriam, 50, housewife
“Hindi na masyadong magagamit ang kotse papunta kung saan-saan.” (I won’t use my car as much to go from place to place.) – Joel, 53, OFW
For many, fuel is a very important resource, especially if they travel regularly, like people who drive to work and couriers who travel to several destinations per day to make deliveries. Even people who are at home and often have food or other packages delivered to them would be affected by the price hike because the increase in fuel prices would also affect other prices like delivery charges.
What about you? With fuel prices expected to go up by a lot this week, what do you plan to do? What will you scale back on to make way for it? Let us know in the comments below.
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