Former jeepney driver Dione Palmores, who was forced to sleep on the streets due to high fuel prices, was among those helped by Vice Ganda during her “It’s Showtime” comeback after a brief hiatus.
Dione previously went viral after he being featured in a news report on April 18, where he was seen hauling bus passengers’ bags in Cubao, Quezon City and relying on tips to survive each day.
“Tagabuhat-buhat na lang ako sa mga galing probinsya, parang porter. Pangkain lang maghapon,” he told ABS-CBN News last week.
Dione said he stopped driving his jeepney after diesel prices rose above P100 per liter amid rising fuel costs.
“Tumigil na ako nung [naging] P116 ‘yung diesel, minsan wala na akong kinikita talaga. Kasi magkano ‘yung isang ikot ko, P800 ‘yung isang diesel eh, ‘yung koleksyon ko P600 lang, aabot ng dalawang daan,” he said.
“Ngayon, dito na ko sa kalsada. Ginarahe ko na ‘yung jeep kasi wala eh, mapagod lang ako,” Dione added.
He said he returned the jeepney to its operator and began sleeping on the streets about a month ago, surviving day by day while trying to save enough money to send to his family.
Former jeepney driver Diones is now sleeping on the streets after being forced to stop operating when diesel prices hit P100 per liter.
He now earns a living carrying passengers’ luggage at the Cubao bus terminal just to afford food. @ABSCBNNews pic.twitter.com/F3oKfnQhUx
— Izzy Lee (@_izzylee) April 17, 2026
Fuel prices have been increasing weekly since March due to the tensions in the Middle East, a key oil-supplying region, as shippers face difficulties transporting their products amid military actions involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
Meanwhile, Dione said diesel prices would need to drop to at least P70 per liter for him to resume driving a jeepney, noting he could take home around P500 at that price.
He was among the jeepney drivers who appeared in “It’s Showtime’s” “Laro Laro Pick” segment on its April 18 episode, which also marked Vice’s comeback after a break last March.
During the segment, Dione shared that he could not return home to his family in Bicol as he could not afford the fare. He added that he felt ashamed to go back because he had no money.
He also said his child had to stop attending college after he was no longer able to provide for daily expenses following the loss of his income.
Vice then said she would provide Dione with fare to return home and capital to start a business in their province. The host also offered assistance for his child’s education.
Vice also addressed the government after learning about Dione’s situation.
“Sana lang nanonood ang pamahalaan,” she said.
“Marami pong Pilipinong ganito ngayon, nawalan ng trabaho dahil sa taas ng presyo ng gasolina, lalong-lalo na ang mga drivers, sila ang unang tinamaan ng krisis na ito. Hindi na makapasada,” the TV host added.
“Ang tanong, ano ang plano niyo sa kanila? Bata pa lang naman tayo, tumataas na ang gasolina. Alam naman natin na mangyayari’t mangyayari ‘yan, kaya dapat ‘yung pamahalaan, bago pa mangyari ‘yan, nag-iisip na kayo ng mga gagawin niyo ‘pag nangyari ‘yan,” Vice said.
“Hindi ‘yung ‘pag nangyari ‘yan, taranta kayo, nakanganga at walang magagawa sa mga naghihirap na mamamayan,” she added.
Jeepney drivers who did not advance to the final round of the “Laro Laro Pick” segment still received P5,000 in assistance from Vice.
Meanwhile, the P20,000 jackpot prize was won by Ricky, another jeepney driver.
