March 11, 2026 l Business Mirror
Many people think that rising fuel cost is only the problem of those people who can afford to buy a car. The sad truth is that even if you do not own a vehicle, fuel price increases, particularly the big jumps, will affect everyone. Anyone who makes use of the public transport system, rides on a ship or a plane, buys from Shopee or Lazada, orders food from a delivery service, or anyone who eats, drinks and makes use of electricity will eventually feel the increase in prices, sooner than later.
To help the system reduce to price of fuel, the government can simply reduce the excise taxes and value-added tax it imposes of gasoline and diesel. However, this reduction is not likely to happen due to the convenient excuse that these collections are used to fund necessary infrastructure projects, needed expenditures to help the less fortunate, and these funds have already been allocated to priority departments like education, health and so on. It would seem that a solution through a reduction in taxes is unlikely.
This leaves the actual users of fuel to come up with their own solutions to alleviate the rising cost of fuel. Possible measures will come in the form of reduced wastage and pilferage, improving fuel efficiency and better capacity utilization. Hopefully this reduces their cost of fuel to hold off a price increase or at the very least reduce the amount of price increase of their products and services.
While reducing wastage and pilferage should have been done even during times of normal fuel prices, the urgency to do this becomes more necessary. Simple things like making sure there are no leaks in the fuel tanks and lines, avoiding contaminants, proper control procedures to record fuel deliveries and usage so there is proper accountability and no pilferage or theft.
Improving fuel efficiency can be done through several ways. Keeping the vehicles, machinery and equipment within specs through proper maintenance should help. This includes keeping tire pressures inflated properly, doing the correct preventive maintenance service. It is important to educate your drivers and operators on the proper usage and most efficient operating range to achieve maximum efficiency.
The other way of ensuring fuel efficiency is by checking the quality of fuel you are using and that you are getting the correct specifications and amount from your suppliers. There are also fuel enhancers such as Eco Power Pill Carbon3, that make use existing nano technologies that improve the efficiency of fuel combustion to increase power output, reduce pollution and bring down fuel combustion by as much as 20 percent.
Better capacity utilization means having a better scheduling and route planning so that the vehicles maximize their load, optimize their route plan and schedule. Even when fuel prices calm down, doing all of these enhancements will lead to reduced costs and increased profitability. It is up to you to take measures that will help alleviate the effects of rising fuel cost; you should: after all, it is your money.
***The views expressed herein are his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of his office as well as FINEX. For comments, email georgechuaph@yahoo.com. Photo is from Pinterest.