THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF TRICYCLE DRIVERS IN THE INFLATION OF GAS PRICE

AMIDST PANDEMIC

Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

For millions of Filipinos, tricycles are not only a popular mode of transportation, but also a

source of income. They have little access to formal financial services and rely on a tiny daily income

from a community-based transportation company to make ends meet. The primary source of revenue

for tricycle drivers and their families is transporting customers from their houses to markets, schools,

churches, and offices. The tricycle drivers, however, are one of the most affected industries in our

country as a result of the pandemic. Furthermore, since the price of gasoline in the Philippines is

rising, and we know that gasoline is mostly utilized as an engine fuel in tricycle drivers' vehicles, it

becomes even more difficult.

In India, which is the third-largest fuel importer globally with over 80% dependence on crude

oil imports, but due to the pandemic the price of gasoline hiked into twice of the normal rate. The

record high gasoline price are leaving some Indian drivers unable to afford the cost (Chakraborty &

Sundria 2021). In South Africa, due to the price hike of gasoline drivers are complaining that they

would make it impossible for them to earn a living (Bird et al. 2020). In Cambodia, many drivers

complained about the price hiked of gasoline that they cannot earn income because the price of petrol

always goes up and that the price hike compounded with a pandemic that refuses to abate will

adversely affect their livelihood and those of other motorists who require fuel to move around and

transport goods and materials (Nuv Sivutha 2021). In London, the price hike of gasoline became a
threat to the consumers especially to the drivers because another crisis is to be face, they knew that

their income will decrease (Sharafedin et al. 2021).

In Manila, Philippines, price hike of gasoline are fast becoming a problem in the especially to

the drivers as they stroke inflation in an economy that is just starting to get its groove back after a

pandemic-led collapse. The Philippines is a net oil importer so any spikes in international oil prices

would push up pump prices. Since the beginning of the year, data from the Department of Energy

showed prices of gasoline and diesel have gone up by P21.95 per liter and P18.10 per liter,

respectively. Due to the price of the gasoline the drivers from any places is having a hard time

dealing with the said issue (Cigaral, 2021). In Laoag City, Philippines, more than 1,000 tricycle drivers

in the province of Ilocos Norte will receive fuel subsidies to assist them in the ongoing health crisis

and oil price hike (Adriano 2021). In Zamboanga City, the city government will distribute financial

assistance to some 3,841 tricycle drivers starting thursday to help cushion the effects of the

coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Tata Lozada, a tricycle driver, said the financial aid

will be a big help to tricycle drivers like him amid the pandemic (Garcia, Jr. 2021).

In Trento, Agusan del Sur, I observed that the tricycle drivers are struggled in the price hike of

gasoline especially that we are facing this pandemic either. In addition, I as one of the passengers here

in Trento together with my neighbors shared experiences and observation about the price hike of

gasoline. They said that the fare rate of the tricycle drivers had increase mainly because of the

gasoline’s price hike. The tricycle drivers find this situation seemed difficult for them. With this

circumstances it possess a questions in our mind, why this phenomenon happened. This

circumstances needs a broad research about the lived experiences of tricycle drivers in the inflation of

gas amidst this crisis.

In addition, this phenomenological study differed from all other studies about the experiences

of the tricycle drivers in the price hike of gas in this pandemic because the setting of our study we are

about to conduct will be in a new normal setting and the already conducted are just in a normal for
the reason that there is no pandemic happened before. With this circumstance, we as the researcher

we have observe that there is a must for us to pursue this study because there is no study conducted

on the lived experiences of tricycle drivers from Poblacion, Sta. Josefa, Agusan del Sur. This study

will fill the gap in literature as the researcher will get to know more on lived experiences and coping

strategies of Tricycle drivers.

This give the researchers and other people understood and consider the difficulties

encountered by our tricycle drivers to know that nowadays there are lots of tricycle drivers suffered

because of this said issue. Public will also discovered that the inflation of gasses among the tricycle

drivers amidst this pandemic has a big impact especially on their family, with higher diesel prices

and ongoing pandemic crisis drivers would find it difficult to sustain their need and therefore

adequate measures should be taken to ease their hardships on this ongoing issue.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore and understand the lived

experiences of the tricycle drivers from Poblacion, Sta, Josefa, Agusan del Sur regarding on the

inflation of price of gas amidst pandemic.

At this stage of research, we will be able to learn about the experiences of the tricycle drivers

from Poblacion, Sta, Josefa, Agusan del Sur based on what they have been through, their ways of

coping with their experiences, and their insights and aspirations regarding with the inflation of price

amidst pandemic.

Research Questions

This study aims to explore the lived experiences of the tricycle drivers of Poblacion, Sta, Josefa,

Agusan del Sur due to hike of gas rate during this pandemic. It seeks to answer to the following

questions:
 1. What are the lived experiences of the tricycle driver in the inflation of price gas amidst

pandemic?

2. How do they cope up with the challenges they encountered in inflation of gas amidst

pandemic?

3. What insights that can be shared by tricycle drivers in the inflation of gas amidst pandemic?

Theoretical Lens

This study will be anchored to the theory of reinforcement theory by B.F. Skinner (1957). This

theory states that humans and other organism are theorized to adapt their behaviors through their

interactions with changing environments to survive and thrive.

Change becomes a challenge to the drivers most especially during this pandemic. The inflation

of gas price has impacted the lives of the drivers and tend to change their way of living which drivers

adapt on the impact of this.

This study will be anchored to the theory of resilience theory of Norman Garmezy (1984). This

theory states that it I not the nature of adversity that is most important but how we deal with it. When

we face adversity, misfortune, or frustration, resilience helps us bounce back. It helps us survive,

recover, and even thrive in the face and wake of misfortune.

Hence, this theory is relevant to our study because we believe that despite the challenges that

the tricycle drivers had experiences on the priced hiked of gasoline today they keep on surviving

because their families rely on their daily income.

Scope and Limitation of the Study

This study focuses on the lived experiences of tricycle drivers from Poblacion, Sta. Josefa,

Agusan del Sur with regards to the price hike of gas during this pandemic. This study will be

conducted on February 2022 to April 2022, S.Y. 2021-2022.

 Moreover we admit the weakness of this study to achieve the expected generalizability. The

sample size is relatively small. There will be 10 IDI participants. Besides we cannot guarantee the

perfect collection of the experiences of the participants. Therefore, the application of the findings to a

wider population needs a careful consideration.

Importance of the Study

To contribute to the existing body of knowledge is the goal of every research. The result of this

study will merit the following:

To the Drivers. This study will express their insights and perspectives towards passenger’s

reaction to them, also to give an understanding to the passenger who has a lot of troubles in

motorcycles.

To the Passengers. This will help the passengers to understand the situation of the tricycle

drivers. Also, to be aware what problems tricycle drivers are facing for them to understand.

To the Barangay Officials. For them to be aware, on what is happening to the tricycle drivers

who are one of the important people in the society.

To the Community. This research will serve as their guide to understand the different

situation of tricycle drivers, also for them to know the advantages of riding a tricycle.

To the Land Transportations Office (LTO). This data will serve as an Eye-opener in the

formulation and implementation of policies, rules, and regulation, also to know the different aspects

on the problems encountered by motorized tricycle operators specifically on government laws and

regulations.

To the Future Researchers. This study will serve as their basis for more narrowed and specific

results. Furthermore, this can also help them with the other information concerning about the effect of

gas inflation to the tricycle drivers especially that we are in a midst of pandemic.
Definition of Terms

In order to provide clarity and to establish a common view of understanding, the term below is

operationally and conceptually defined:

Price hike. Percent of increase in the cost of goods or services (BusinessDictionary.com). In this

study, this refers to the increase with the price of gas that the tricycle drivers from Poblacion, Sta.

Josefa, Agusan del Sur is facing amidst this pandemic.

Inflation. Inflation is the rate of increase in prices over a given period of time. Inflation is

typically a broad measure, such as the overall increase in prices or the increase in the cost of living in

a country (F&D Article). In this study, this refers to the increase with the price of gas that the tricycle

drivers from Poblacion, Sta. Josefa, Agusan del Sur is facing amidst this pandemic.

Tricycle drivers. Tricycle drivers typically belong to low-income groups and to the micro,

small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) sector as self-employed workers. They have little

access to formal financial services and survive with small daily earnings from a community-based

transportation business (Asian Development Bank, 2020). In this study, tricycle drivers are the one

who suffered from price hike of gasoline amidst pandemic.

Gas. Gasoline is a fuel made from crude oil and other petroleum liquids. Gasoline is mainly

used as an engine fuel in vehicles (eia.gov). In this study, we use this term as mainly used as an

engine fuel in vehicles of Tricycle drivers.

Organization of the Study

The aim of this study is to know the experiences of the tricycle drivers regarding on the

inflation of price of gas amidst pandemic.

Each chapter were properly discussed and the details are arranged accordingly to provide

understanding of the full concept of the study.

 Chapter 1 presented the discussion of the problem of this study. This is also where the purpose

of the study is. It also explains who can benefit from this study and why it is important. The research

questions and the theory that is connected to our study is also located in this chapter.

Chapter 2 presents different studies and concepts to support and help in understanding the

different facets of understanding expository texts. It deals with the review of related literature (RRL).

It is the part of the study where common research works and theories were outsourced from the

internet, books and even trusted authors and experts.

Chapter 3 discusses the methodology applied in the study including: research design, role of

the researcher, research participants, data collection and analysis, criteria of trustworthiness in the

study, and finally the ethical consideration in the conduct of this study.