BY ALEX ALAGON
THE TRICYCLE Alliance of Davao City (TADC) is sounding a final, desperate alarm as gasoline prices in the city have officially surged into the ₱96.00 to ₱100.00 per liter range. While fuel costs have skyrocketed, Davao’s 15,000 tricycle drivers remain shackled to a 6-year-old ₱10.00 minimum fare, a rate that TADC leaders now call “mathematically impossible and humanly cruel.”
A mathematical death spiral
For over a month, the tricycle sector has absorbed weekly price hikes with zero government relief. With gasoline now touching ₱100.00 per liter, a typical driver in Bangkerohan, Matina, Agdao, Buhangin, Sasa, Toril, or Calinan spends nearly 70% of their gross daily earnings just to fill their tank.
“We have reached the breaking point. At ₱100 per liter, a ₱10 fare is no longer a service; it is a slow death for the driver’s family,” says TADC Representative Michael Ibañez. “Our drivers are taking home less than ₱300 a day. In a city where the minimum wage is ₱525, this is a humanitarian crisis unfolding on our streets.”
The nation’s most neglected sector
TADC highlights that Davao City currently holds the record for the lowest tricycle fare in the Philippines despite having some of the highest fuel costs in Mindanao. While neighboring cities have adjusted to ₱15 or ₱20 long before the fuel crisis, Davao’s “First-and-Last Mile” workers have been ignored for over 2,000 days.
“We are the essential bridge that brings Davaoeños to their doorsteps, yet we are the most marginalized,” Ibanez added.
“The National Government has excluded the majority of us from the DSWD AICS and DOE Fuel Subsidies, and our own City Government’s ‘Legislative Lag’ is leaving us to starve while they deliberate.”
Demand for immediate executive action
The Alliance is formally calling on Mayor Sebastian “Basti” Duterte to bypass the months-long legislative process and sign an Emergency Executive Order (EO) today to:
1. Authorize a ₱20.00 Provisional Minimum Fare to provide an immediate lifeline to drivers.
2. Adopt the Automatic Fare Adjustment Index (AFAI) to ensure fares rise and automatically fall based on the ₱90–₱105 fuel brackets.
A final plea to City Hall
The TADC warns that without an immediate provisional increase, a spontaneous “paralysis of transport” is inevitable as drivers simply can no longer afford to start their engines.
“We appeal to Mayor Basti’s heart: Look at the gas pumps. It is ₱100 per liter. We cannot wait for another committee hearing. Our children need to eat today. Sign the EO now.”
CONTACT:
Michael Ibanez
Representative, TADC
Email: michaelmacasibanez@gmail.com
Mobile: 0926-365-8845
ENVIRONMENTAL group Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) has voiced strong opposition to the proposed Davao City Waste-to-Energy (WtE) Incineration project, ahead of the public scoping.
In a statement on Wednesday, April 1, the group said the project is “counter-intuitive” to the city’s established circular economy goals.
The pronouncement comes as the project prepares for a critical public scoping session “to evaluate potential social and environmental impacts”, scheduled for April 15, 2026, at the Barangay Biao Escuela gym.
The public scoping is a mandatory component of the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System, implemented by the project proponent, and overseen by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Environmental Management Bureau XI.
“While this process is intended to assess potential environmental and social impacts and uphold public participation, the IDIS maintains its firm opposition to the project,” the group said.
According to IDIS, the establishment of a WtE facility threatens to undermine ongoing circular economy efforts, including those supported by European Union-Philippines (EU-PH) partnerships that prioritize waste reduction, reuse, and recycling.
The group argues that WtE incineration does the exact opposite of a circular economy, which aims to keep materials in the production loop.
Citing a 2024 study by Hernandez-Romero et al., IDIS pointed out that incineration effectively destroys material quality, particularly plastics, and prevents them from being reused.
“Instead of encouraging waste reduction, recycling, and composting, WtE systems weaken these efforts by competing for the same materials that should be recovered and reused,” the group stressed.
IDIS also highlighted the potential economic fallout for the city’s informal waste sector, the local junkshops, and recycling companies, as this sector relies heavily on sorted municipal solid waste, such as plastic, for their trade and livelihood.
“Rather than supporting better resource management, WtE risks pushing the city into a ‘ take-make-dispose-burn ‘ system, where materials are used once and then destroyed,” it said, noting WTE will affect their current systems, resources, trade, and livelihood.
The current circular economy approach in the city is designed to preserve the capacity of the Sanitary Landfill (SLF) in New Carmen by transforming waste into valuable resources, which eventually will potentially eliminate the need for WtE.
IDIS warns that adopting WtE is a “step backward,” as rather than encouraging waste reduction, recycling, and composting, it weakens these efforts by competing for the same materials that should be recovered and reused.
As the April 15 scoping date approaches, IDIS is calling for a discussion to ensure that the critical concerns of all affected sectors are “properly heard and accommodated.”
Photo: City Government of Davao
DAVAO ARCHBISHOP Romulo G. Valles, D.D., called on the Catholic faithful to practice sacrifice and mindfulness during the final days of Lent.
In a message, the Archbishop encouraged everyone to adopt practical measures amid the “great difficulty and hardships,” citing the ongoing war in the Middle East.
He also urged mass attendees to limit travel and to plan only for necessary trips.
For those attending liturgical celebrations and the Visita Iglesia, the Archdiocese advised carpooling to reduce the number of vehicles on the road. He suggested that the faithful could choose to visit only one or two churches to minimize travel.
While the tradition of visiting multiple churches on Holy Thursday and Good Friday is a “wonderful pious tradition,” Valles reminded the public that it is not obligatory.
The Archbishop emphasized that these small acts of sacrifice are ways to help “lighten the hardships” of the community.
“In all this, we trust that the Lord will bless our efforts, no matter how small, and make ‘miracles’ of them, to give us strength and hope in these difficult times,” Valles stated.
The Davao City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) urged faithfuls to embark on a meaningful Visita Iglesia around the city, taking time to pause, pray, and reflect.
CTOO release guide for churches to visit to guide Davaoeños.
- Mt. Calvary of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Tibungco
- St. Mary of the Perpetual Rosary Parish (Buhangin Shrine) in Buhangin-
- Carmelite Monastery – Bajada (Lanang area)
- St. Francis of Assisi Parish – Ma-a
- Mother of Mercy Shrine – New Carmen, Tugbok
- Shrine of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague – Matina
- Archdiocesan Shrine of San Vicente Ferrer – Mulig
- Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus – Davao City
- Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Anne – Sta. Ana Avenue
- San Pedro Cathedral – San Pedro Street
- Santo Rosario Parish – Toril
- Immaculate Conception Parish (Mintal) – Mintal, Tugbok District
- Our Lady of Lourdes Parish – Bangkal, Talomo District
- Holy Spirit Adoration Convent (Pink Sisters) – Catalunan Grande
- St. Francis Xavier Seminary Chapel – Catalunan Grande
- Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish – Bajada
- Our Lady of Fatima Parish – Boulevard
- Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish – Obrero
As the season of end-of-school-year rites comes in full swing amid the oil crisis, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday encouraged young Filipinos to treat the many crises their generation has lived through as “training” for future leadership.
Cayetano told this to hundreds of graduating and moving-up students, together with their parents, in the City of Taguig on March 31, 2026.
He explained that effective leaders often draw their drive and heart for service from what they lacked or the hardships they endured.
“Sabi kasi ng iba, kapag ikaw ay leader o boss, ikaw ang parating pinagsisilbihan. ‘Pag may pagkukulang, may uutusan ka,” the senator said.
“Pero sa salitang Pilipino, maganda eh – ‘pamumuno.’ Kapag may kulang, pinupunuan. ‘Yan ang role ng isang leader,” he continued.
True to this year’s theme, “Pilipinong Nagtatapos, Handang Mamuno nang may Kakayanan at Mabuting Pagkatao,” he told the youth that the challenges they have experienced – from the COVID-19 pandemic, the flood control scandal, to the current oil crisis – are preparing them to become a generation of more grounded and committed leaders.
“There are many things you will not understand right away because you are being prepared. You are being trained. Not just by your parents, not just by the teachers, [but also] by this world,” he said.
Quoting the Book of Genesis from the Bible, he reminded them that “we are all meant to be leaders,” as God’s appointed stewards of His creations.
“When you take dominion, that’s leadership. That’s stewardship. ‘Yan ay pamumuno,” he said.
He then urged the youth to remain resilient, warning that their actions can influence others around them.
“Kung leader ka, anong ginagawa ng iba? Follow. So, ‘pag nakaisip ka ng masama [tulad ng] mag-quit, mag-drop out, o mag-suicide [kasi ang] hirap ng buhay,’ please remember, you’re a leader,” he encouraged them.
“God loves you. So whenever you have doubt, remind yourself na you are being trained at maraming nagmamahal sa inyo,” he added.
The education advocate also reminded students to honor their parents for their sacrifices.
“Today, ang pinakamaganda ninyong ‘thank you’ ay gumraduate kayo,” he told the students.
THE DAVAO City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) anticipates more than 1,000 bus trips a day, equivalent to 50,000 to 75,000 passengers, for the Holy Week.
DCOTT manager Aisa Usop said they had already observed the influx on Friday last week, March 29, and had coordinated with the bus operators regarding applying for special permits in advance.
However, she said that operators can also expect fewer passengers to arrive at the terminal due to the price hikes in diesel and gasoline.
She also said that there is no directive from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) yet on the fare hike.
Security within the terminal continues to heighten with CCTV monitoring, X-ray baggage machine at the passenger entrance, and the coordination of Task Force Davao despite anticipating low passenger numbers.
Usop has also requested orientations to refresh the security personnel and stakeholders of the terminal on the culture of security.
DCOTT has catered an average of 700 to 800 daily bus trips during normal days.
Last Mar 14, the LTFRB announced the approval of a P0.35-P1 fare increase for provincial buses. However, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suspended the fare hike on March 18 and instead ordered a subsidy for drivers.
A SARI-SARI store owner from Valencia, Negros Oriental, wins a brand-new motorcycle through Smart Communications Inc. (Smart)’s Ka-Partner Rewards program. This is a yearly incentive program that allows Smart’s partner retailers to enjoy instant rewards and exclusive perks by using the Smart Ka-Partner App.
Shirley Sabanal Din, 44, a load retailer for over 20 years, expressed her gratitude for this unexpected gift, which is a great help for their family and small business. “We will be using this as our service vehicle for our daily errands and to safely bring our child to school. Thanks to Smart and the Ka‑Partner App for the continued support and the valuable benefits you provide to us retailers,” said Shirley.
The Ka-Partner App is Smart’s retailer-focused platform that simplifies load selling and management. It also lets users earn points from selling regular load, which can be redeemed for instant rewards such as free SMS and airtime, load wallet credits, or e‑raffle entries.
“Congratulations to our winner from Negros Oriental. This initiative is our way of saying thank you to our valued Ka-partners who have helped us reach more customers and serve Smart subscribers nationwide,” said Ed Tinio, Center Head/AVP for Regional Customer Development Visayas at Smart.
For more than a decade, the Smart Ka‑Partner Rewards program has helped improve the lives of retailers across the country. It reflects Smart’s commitment to supporting its partner retailers by using technology and innovative solutions to improve their livelihood. This also aligns with the PLDT Group’s efforts to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 1: No Poverty, and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.
SINGAPORE — March 31, 2026 — A new study by Briefcase Index has named De La Salle University as the university with the highest starting salary in the Philippines, with a reported median monthly starting pay of ₱35,000 between 2020 and 2025.
The B2B discovery and rankings platform analyzed crowdsourced salary data from the Liyab First Pay Survey, conducted by career development startup Liyab, to identify which universities were associated with the strongest early-career pay outcomes for graduates.
De La Salle University ranked first with a median monthly starting salary of ₱35,000. Ateneo de Manila University placed second at ₱32,000, while University of the Philippines Diliman rounded out the top three with ₱30,000.
At the other end of the ranking, University of the Philippines Visayas recorded the lowest median monthly starting salary, at ₱20,000.
The study highlighted a notable gap between the top and bottom of the ranking, with De La Salle University’s median monthly starting salary standing ₱15,000 above that of the University of the Philippines Visayas.
10 Highest Starting Salary Universities in the Philippines
| Rank | University | Median Monthly Starting Salary (2020 – 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | De La Salle University | ₱35,000 |
| #2 | Ateneo de Manila University | ₱32,000 |
| #3 | University of the Philippines Diliman | ₱30,000 |
| #4 | University of the Philippines Los Baños | ₱25,500 |
| #5 | University of Santo Tomas | ₱23,000 |
| #6 | Saint Louis University | ₱22,500 |
| #7 | Polytechnic University of the Philippines | ₱21,750 |
| #8 | Mapúa University | ₱20,900 |
| #9 | De La Salle Lipa | ₱20,500 |
| #10 | University of the Philippines Visayas | ₱20,000 |
Source: “Liyab First Pay Survey (Responses).” Liyab. Accessed March 16, 2026. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gnA91Tjr_3UCNV8x1_LoE0oC56r-pXXRdJcgTfOLlm0/.
“This ranking offers a clearer picture of how graduates from different universities are entering the workforce in the Philippines,” said a Briefcase Index spokesperson. “For students and families, it adds perspective on early-career earning potential, while for employers it serves as a useful reference for hiring strategy, salary positioning, and campus outreach.”
The findings provide a useful point of comparison with a 2023 report by Human Resources Online, which noted that university students in the Philippines expected an average annual salary of PHP 495,966. That figure is above the median starting salaries reported across all universities in this ranking.
Overall, the study offers a practical overview of graduate earning trends in the Philippines, with relevance for both education choices and workforce planning.
