TRANSPORTATION workers need fixed wages to cope with rising oil prices, which appear to be aggravated by the attack on Ukraine by Russia, a major oil producer, a group of workers said on Sunday. transport.

“The multiple threats to our transport workers require an ambitious government response,” the National Confederation of Transport Workers’ Unions – Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (NCTU-SENTRO) said in a mailed statement. electronic.

The group calls for the adoption of service contracts as a dedicated government program.

“With the service contracts, our drivers and transport operators will receive fixed salaries to cover regular routes that will be identified at national and local levels of government,” he said.

Under the service contract scheme, drivers and public utility vehicle operators are paid by the government to complete their journeys by the kilometer. Currently, the program is intended to offset the effects of capacity restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

“The recent escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine has contributed to the continued rise in oil prices this year. As the cost of oil is not expected to change in the immediate future, ordinary Filipinos have already started to be affected,” NCTU-SENTRO said.

“This and the possible increase in the cost of other basics is an ongoing concern for many households, especially those in the transport sector,” he added.

Brent crude jumped over $100 for the first time since 2014 last Thursday after Russia launched its military assault on Ukraine.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Dubai crude will average $83.3 a barrel this year but slow to $79 in December.

Under the Omnibus Appropriations Act 2022, the budget for the fuel subsidy program can only be released when the average price of Dubai crude oil based on the Platts Singapore average reaches or exceeds $80 per barrel for three consecutive months.

“We call on the government to provide the necessary support to increase workers’ wages and incomes,” NCTU-SENTRO said.

On February 18, the presidential palace said that the Ministry of Transport and the Land Transport Regulatory and Franchise Board (LTFRB) had both submitted the necessary documents to the Ministry of Budget and Management (DBM) for the subsidy of the fuel.

In the application submitted to the DBM, 377,443 beneficiaries will each receive 6,500 pula for the fuel subsidy, the LTFRB said in a statement.

Beneficiaries include operators of public service jeepneys, buses, minibuses, taxis, UV Express, transport network vehicle service, tourist transport service, tricycles and delivery services. — Arjay L. Balinbin