Striking a balance towards normalcy

Now that Metro Manila is on Alert Level 3, life seems to be returning to normal. Many employees have started reporting for work. Businesses are gradually returning to their operations. People are coming out of their homes. Restaurants are receiving patrons who have missed their favorite dishes. Places like Tagaytay are noticeably packed with visitors from all over. Malls are teeming with people. Despite the lingering dangers of COVID-19, people are visibly tired of staying at home.

But along with the relaxation of rules comes the relentless rise in fuel prices. For several weeks the prices of diesel and gasoline have been rising non-stop. Gasoline prices at the more well-known gas stations have exceeded ₱60 per liter. Diesel at more than ₱40 to ₱50. You can probably find cheaper fuel from the smaller players. Crude oil companies and organizations have withheld increasing crude oil production, seeing an opportunity to recover. So while people want to take out-of-town vacations, they are met with more expensive fuel. And as expected, a rise in fuel prices brings about a rise in prices in almost everything.

Public transportation groups are now asking for an increase in the minimum fare brought about by the high prices of diesel. They were allowed to ply their routes but were met with expensive diesel. So far their request has not been approved by the government. The time is not yet right, according to DOTr Sec. Tugade because the riding public is likewise recovering from all the lockdowns. Many have only started receiving full salaries. The DOTr is exploring other ways to help drivers and operators such as fuel subsidies and even financial aid to both drivers and commuters. Where the funds for financial aid will come from is not clear but it seems this administration has a penchant for parking billions at the Philippine International Trading Corp. Maybe that's where the funds will come from.

I agree everything needs to strike a balance as we gradually recover after more than a year of suffering caused by COVID-19. We are not even out of the woods. When people are not careful and the number of positive cases increases, we will go right back to where we came from. A situation many no longer want. We all want to recover. We want everything back to normal. Drivers, commuters, employees, shops, companies. I would like to see us get to Alert level 2 or even lower. But with the coronavirus still pretty much around, we cannot let our guard down.