Ubuntu Servers :: Running Php Files Without Setting Read / Write Permission?

On an Apache2 server someone else setup, I have a folder with drwx--x--x permission and the php file can still write in the folder. But on my own setup, I need to set the same folder to drwx--x-wx. Inside the folder, I have a index.php that runs just by setting rwx--x--x but on my own setup, I need to allow read permission for others/group before it can run: rwxr-xr-x (or else I get a blank page). I tried changing the folder and files to root but it's the same.