Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano is urging the government to adopt a tailored and localized response to the oil crisis, saying a one-size-fits-all approach throughout the country will not work because the impact varies across regions and sectors.
In a recent Facebook vlog, Cayetano said national discussions often focus on Metro Manila and fail to reflect the situation in provinces, islands, and remote communities.
“Ang tendency natin, dalawa: one is we talk (mainly) about Metro Manila and number two, when we talk, we’re talking as if buong Metro Manila is the same situation sa bundok, sa isla, sa bawat barangay sa ating bansa,” he said.
“‘Pag nagbigay tayo ng tulong, ‘pag tayo naghanap ng solusyon, kailangan personalized ‘yan. Kailangan nakatutok ‘yan sa sitwasyon ng lugar,” he added.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) support his point. In March 2026, inflation reached 4.3 percent in areas outside the National Capital Region (NCR), higher than the 3.4 percent recorded in NCR.
Transport inflation also increased rapidly in areas outside NCR at 7.3 percent, compared with 4.2 percent in NCR.
Wage levels also varied significantly across the country. The National Wages and Productivity Commission lists the daily minimum wage in NCR at up to P695, while MIMAROPA is at P455. In Eastern Visayas, the rate ranges from P422 to P452, and P426 to P439 in Zamboanga Peninsula.
These differences support Cayetano’s point that the “one-size-fits-all” approach of providing a uniform amount and type of aid may not work on the ground.
He said this is true even within the transport sector, where drivers face different fuel costs depending on the kind of vehicle they operate and the type of fuel they use.
“For example, P5,000 na ayuda. Kung taxi driver ka tapos gas ang gamit mo, kulang ang P5K. Pero kung jeepney driver ka at diesel ang sasakyan mo, [mas lalong kulang y’un]. So magkaiba sila ng sitwasyon,” he said.
At present, the government is distributing P5,000 in aid per bus, taxi, and UV express driver under its fuel subsidy program. Meanwhile, jeepney drivers, whether of modern or traditional units, get P1,500 each.
The burden is even more pronounced in some off-grid areas like Palawan, where fuel is not only used for transport but also for power generation.
Cayetano said in other areas, unemployment also remains a major problem, suggesting that in some localities, the response may need to go beyond fuel subsidy and include livelihood or employment support.
“Problemang problema talaga y’ung gasolina because [apektado nga] y’ung public transportation. Pero sa maraming rural areas, pagkain, presyo, at kawalan ng trabaho pa rin ang problema,” he said.
The Minority Leader said this is why government response should be based on complete data.
“Kung mali ang facts natin, mali din ang conclusion natin. Kung mali ang figures natin sa pagbibigay ng ayuda, hindi magiging effective,” he said.
Cayetano had previously pushed for giving local government units a bigger role in responding to community needs, saying they are in the best position to see conditions on the ground and determine the most appropriate assistance for vulnerable sectors.###