In response to rising fuel prices and dissatisfaction with government subsidy programs, transport groups in the Philippines have initiated a nationwide three-day strike.
On April 15, 2026, transport sector groups including the public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators in the Philippines commenced a three-day strike to protest against the high cost of fuel and governmental programs they consider insufficient. Members of the transport group MANIBELA assembled for a protest near PHILCOA along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s service contracting program and the P10-per-liter fuel subsidy, which they stated do not adequately alleviate the burden of rising fuel expenses. MANIBELA highlighted that combining funds from the service contracting program with fuel subsidies could better support more drivers. Alongside MANIBELA, the transport group PISTON also joined the strike, emphasizing their ongoing protests since March demanding the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law and the removal of the VAT on oil, which they claim heavily impact fuel prices. The Department of Transportation’s Service Contracting Program (SCP), which began concurrently with the strike and runs for two weeks, aims to supplement incomes of drivers of traditional and modern jeepneys and buses, subsidizing incomes per kilometer traveled and intending to benefit a wide range of drivers and passengers across high-density routes, including the EDSA Busway corridor in Metro Manila. Additionally, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. had announced a fuel subsidy to assist PUV drivers amid escalating fuel costs attributed to the Middle East crisis. However, transport groups maintain that these measures are insufficient in offsetting the rapid increase in fuel prices, prompting their collective strike action. The strike has impacted commuter access to public transportation, as observed by reports from local media.
Sources referenced:
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/983944/puv-drivers-operators-start-3-day-transport-strike/story/