TACLOBAN CITY — The city government of Calbayog City will implement a temporary four-day onsite work arrangement for its employees as part of energy-saving measures amid rising fuel prices.

Under the arrangement, employees will report onsite from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Thursday, while four hours of work-from-home duties will be observed on Fridays.

City Mayor Raymund Uy said the scheme will not apply to frontline and health service personnel to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of essential public services.

Uy also convened members of the Local Price Coordinating Council along with representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry in Samar to assess the possible economic impact of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Discussions focused on monitoring commodity prices and protecting consumers as global developments continue to affect fuel costs and other basic goods.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — The city government of Calbayog City will implement a temporary four-day onsite work arrangement for its employees as part of energy-saving measures amid rising fuel prices.

Under the arrangement, employees will report onsite from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Thursday, while four hours of work-from-home duties will be observed on Fridays.

City Mayor Raymund Uy said the scheme will not apply to frontline and health service personnel to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of essential public services.

Uy also convened members of the Local Price Coordinating Council along with representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry in Samar to assess the possible economic impact of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Discussions focused on monitoring commodity prices and protecting consumers as global developments continue to affect fuel costs and other basic goods.

(ROEL T. AMAZONA)

TACLOBAN CITY — Rising fuel prices have begun to push up the cost of basic goods in public markets here, with vendors warning that rice prices may also increase in the coming days due to higher transport costs.

Vegetable and fruit vendors said the cost of bringing farm produce from nearby towns has increased following the latest fuel price adjustments, prompting some sellers to raise their prices.

One vendor said the vegetables she used to buy for about P1,300 now cost around P2,000, forcing her to increase retail prices by at least P3 to avoid losing capital.

Rice retailers also warned that prices may rise next week as some suppliers are reportedly holding their stocks and may sell them at higher rates.

Some vendors said there were no new rice deliveries this week, with retailers still selling stocks from earlier harvests.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority in Eastern Visayas showed that food and non-alcoholic beverages remain among the top contributors to inflation in the region.

Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture said they continue to monitor prices and are preparing measures to help farmers and stabilize the supply of basic commodities.

(ELLA MAE D. SEGUROS, LNU STUDENT INTERN)

TACLOBAN CITY — Netizens in Eastern Visayas have taken to social media to share photos of fuel prices at gasoline stations across the region, highlighting the sharp increases recorded in recent days.

Posts circulating on Facebook show diesel and gasoline prices rising in several areas of Eastern Visayas, with some motorists expressing concern over the growing cost of fuel.
The spike in prices has been linked to supply disruptions and market volatility caused by tensions in the Middle East, which affect global crude oil supplies and, in turn, local fuel prices.

Amid the developments, the Department of Energy said it has intensified monitoring of fuel retailers to ensure compliance with authorized price adjustments.

Meanwhile, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned oil companies against taking advantage of the crisis and said the government would act against those found exploiting the situation.
Residents in Leyte and Samar said the rising fuel costs are beginning to affect their daily expenses, particularly for transportation and basic household needs, prompting calls online for government intervention.

(RALPH AUSTIN A. FERNANDEZ,LNU STUDENT INTERN)