FOR a beleaguered people, like Filipinos , raising the costs of basic necessities at this time of economic hardship is certainly revolting, lamentable and disgusting.

And now there is that impending substantial increase in transport fares as a result of the skyrocketing prices of gasoline and other petroleum products in the world market.

We cannot blame the govenment if it approves the petition for fare increase.

“Talagang kailangang tulungan ng gobyerno ang mga nahihirapang drayber at may-ari ng mga pampasaherong bus at jeepney,” said an ordinary office worker in Sampaloc, Manila.

“Pero sino naman ang tutulong sa aming mga pasahero na kung tutuusin ay kulang na kulang pa ang kakarampot na kinikita namin bilang mga arawang empleyado?” he asked.

The public’s adverse reaction to all these price increases is understandable considering that many overseas and local workers displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic are still jobless.

While people concede that traders need to increase their prices while public utility vehicle operators and drivers must hike fares, they must be at a level that the people can absorb.

Hefty increases in transport fares and prices of goods at a time when hundreds of thousands of people are still jobless will certainly burn a hole in the pockets of the suffering people.

Like other well-meaning people across the country, we want to believe that the government is still capable of upholding the interest of the more than 110 million Filipinos.

Kahit patapos na ang anim na taong administrasyon ni Pangulong Rodrigo Roa` Duterte.

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