On March 28-29, 2026, tricycle drivers lined up their vehicles at a local gasoline station, waiting for their turn to fill their tanks with free fuel from the local government. (Photo courtesy of LGU Loreto)
BUTUAN CITY (March 31) — As global tensions drive fuel prices upward, a small town in Agusan del Sur is stepping in where the market bites hardest — at the grassroots.
The local government of Loreto, Agusan del Sur has begun rolling out a weekly fuel subsidy for tricycle drivers, offering a direct buffer against rising pump prices that have been squeezing daily incomes.
Starting March 28, each registered driver receives seven liters of free fuel per week — a modest allocation, but one that could spell the difference between profit and loss in a sector operating on razor-thin margins.
Mayor Alvin Otaza framed the program as an urgent response to the economic ripple effects of the ongoing Middle East crisis, which has pushed petroleum costs higher and hit transport workers first.
On the ground, the impact is immediate.
For drivers like Dante Taba, 45, the subsidy is less about relief and more about survival. Once earning between P300 to P500 a day, he now struggles to clear P300 as fuel eats into take-home pay.
“Dako jud ug tabang,” he said — a big help — especially as gasoline prices continue to climb.
To prevent leakages, the town’s Business Permit and Licensing Office is issuing fuel claim stubs, limiting access to registered drivers and tightening oversight on distribution.
Beyond easing drivers’ burden, the subsidy carries a second-order effect: keeping fares stable for commuters already grappling with rising costs of living. In a fragile local economy, that stability matters.
The initiative has quickly gained traction among transport workers, and local officials hope it sets a template for nearby towns facing the same pressures.
In a period defined by global shocks, Loreto, Agusan del Sur is betting that targeted, small-scale interventions can still deliver outsized impact — keeping livelihoods afloat while larger forces remain beyond local control.
