After The Commission for the Regulation of Energy and Gas, CREG, and the National Government will confirm the $200 increase in the price of a gallon of gasoline starting this month, the drivers of the main cities of the country reacted.
Although this increase has generated opinions for and against this decision adopted by the Government, it is important to clarify that Colombia continues to be one of the Latin American countries with the lowest fuel prices.
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Medellin
Unions such as taxi drivers, cargo and passenger transport in Antioquia, expressed their concern about the impacts that the rise in fuel will generate, which implies an average value at gas stations of $9,664 per gallon.
The United Taxis group of Medellín, through its leader Fredy Escudero, stated that they met with the Minister of Transportation, Guillermo Reyes, in Bogotá, requesting a subsidy to alleviate these prices and that, therefore, they must wait until October 5, when a response is expected.
For its part, from the Association of Freight Transporters, ATC, they pointed out that the bet should be to have a stable price at the country level, without the need for subsidies.
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In turn, the Association of Passenger Transporters of Antioquia stated that, taking into account that the user rate is set by a cost structure where fuel occupies 33%, increases of up to 25% in the final price of bus tickets are estimated.
Cali
In the capital of Valle del Cauca there are divided opinions regarding the increase in the price of gasoline.
While several citizens assure that the increase of $200 pesos will not affect the pockets of Caleños, taxi drivers and platform drivers assure that this increase will directly impact the earnings they obtain for their work as drivers.
Meanwhile, motorcyclists assured that going from paying $9,562 to $9,762 will directly affect them. However, the ‘motorathons’ assured that they will be the most affected because they will have to increase the values of their routes to reach a gallon of gasoline.
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Finally, MIO users pointed out that they fear a rise in the value of the ticket due to this new fuel price.
Bucaramanga
Taking into account that in Bucaramanga the price of gasoline was $9,477 with the rise of $200 per gallon of fuel, The vast majority of the drivers consulted consider that this affects their pockets, especially now that the countdown to the end of the year season begins.
Johana Reyes, mother of a family, and who has her own vehicle to transport her children to school, expressed her disagreement with the decision.
“This rise in gasoline prices is an attack on the pocket because everything is expensive. That is to say, the quality of life of a Colombian is through the roof, because inflation is rising more every day.”, explained the woman.
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Thus, in Bucaramanga and in the metropolitan area they consider that, at the end of the year, the quality of life of all Colombians will change, because they must reduce household expenses, specifically by tightening their pockets.
Barranquilla
In Barranquilla, the price of a gallon of gasoline was $9,408, a situation that has the taxi drivers’ union concerned, by ensuring that the decision will affect the drivers’ pockets, since their income will decrease with each tank.
Nevertheless, They indicated that they will not raise rates so as not to affect users in the region.
However, they do not rule out mobilizations against this determination. For now, they indicated that they will assume the increase, waiting for the District Administration to make adjustments in the charges for the service provided by individual public transport.
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Cartagena
In Cartagena, the rise in gasoline was stipulated at $9,368, a situation that, for the city’s Taxi Drivers’ Union, will increase expenses and supplies for the provision of this service by the guild and those who will directly suffer this change are the users.
For its part, from the city’s motorcyclists’ union they indicated that this increase of $200 will continue to affect themsince, most of these drivers.
Pereira
Several drivers in the Risaraldense capital were caught by surprise by the increase in gasoline. When they arrived at the service stations, they felt the increase when paying the $200 more for each gallon, since this was left with a value of $9,380.
With the proposal of the National Government to increase it during November and December, the gallon would end up costing in this region of the country $9,750 at the end of the year, varying as always between each service station.
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Manizales
The Corporation of taxi drivers of Colombia, Cortacol, indicated that the increase in fuel in the country will affect the finances of citizenssince, in the rates for next year, increases must be contemplated that cover this additional expense of the transporters.
Julián Osorio, spokesman for this taxi drivers’ corporation, explained that in recent years in Colombia, taxi drivers have stopped using natural gas for vehicles and have returned to gasoline, since the vehicles that are providing this service are of low cylinder capacity and do not warrants the installation of alternative systems.
Osorio also noted that This October 5th they will have a meeting with President Gustavo Petroin which they will carry specific points with proposals for managing fuel costs for public service.
Armenia
In Armenia, Quindío, the reactions to the first increase in the price of gasoline were immediate. Among the Quindians consulted there is no resistance to the increase of $200 but there is expectation about the effects on the family basket that may be generated.
Opinions are diverse among those who have and do not have a vehicle, but they know that the dynamics in the price of fuel in Colombia has effects on various aspects of the economy in regions such as the Coffee Region.
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Analysts consider that, in small cities like Armenia, although fuel consumption is not going to decrease, This type of progressive increase could begin to encourage the use of alternative transport such as bicycles, skateboards and other electric vehicles.
Tunja
In Tunja there is concern and disagreement among most drivers, This taking into account that the capital of Boyacá is one of the cities with the highest gasoline price in the country.
The Tunjanos indicated that this price It can generate an increase in the products of the family basket and the public transport service.
On average, at Tunja service stations, a gallon of gasoline as of the date will have a price of $9,850. Thus, and according to the gradual increase in fuel, by the end of the year gasoline will exceed $10,000 per gallon.
*With information from the Integrated Information Service.
