Manila jeepney drivers struggle as fuel prices slash earnings

The impact of the Middle East conflict is reaching Manila’s streets, where jeepney driver Joseph Orinion says rising fuel costs have significantly cut into his daily income.

What once sustained his family now barely covers costs, as diesel expenses have nearly doubled in recent months, squeezing one of the Philippines’ most essential livelihoods.

Orinion, 53, a father of five who has driven a jeepney for 32 years, says he now spends around 2,000 pesos ($33) a day on fuel compared to about 900 pesos ($15) in the past. After expenses, he is often left with just 200 ($3.35) to 300 pesos ($5). “It’s overwhelming,” he said, describing long days that begin at 5 a.m. and end near 8 p.m., only to find earnings barely enough to get by.

He says the rising cost of diesel has forced him to reconsider how long he can continue driving. With fares difficult to raise and passengers already cutting back on spending, Orinion warns that even small increases could drive commuters away. He is among many drivers calling on the government to temporarily remove fuel taxes to ease the pressure on transport workers and commuters alike.

Jeepneys, iconic public transport vehicles in the Philippines originally built from surplus U.S. military jeeps after World War Two, remain a lifeline for millions. But with fuel costs rising and government subsidies only partly easing the burden, drivers like Orinion say the struggle to stay on the road has become increasingly unsustainable.

Production: Adrian Portugal/Reuters