Thousands of Filipino Drivers Launch Strike in Manila Over Soaring Fuel Prices

Public transport drivers have initiated a strike in Manila to protest against soaring fuel prices, leading the government to deploy police officers and buses to assist stranded commuters. Organized by the transport workers’ union Piston, the two-day strike began on Tuesday with protesters demanding that fuel prices be cut back to 55 pesos ($0.88) a litre—the rate recorded before the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran in February.

Organisers estimated that at least 70,000 drivers and operators would participate in the strike. National police spokesman Allen Rae Co reported that officials monitored 11 rallies involving 275 people in Manila, noting that the strike had not caused significant disruption in the capital region. He added that 8,643 police personnel were deployed to maintain peace and order and assist commuters.

The Department of Transportation announced it would provide free rides to passengers on Tuesday. Meanwhile, in the southeastern Bicol region, authorities dispatched buses to aid affected commuters, according to the state-run Philippine News Agency.

Piston blamed the US-Israel war on Iran for the escalating prices, stating in a social media post that fuel costs will continue to rise as long as the US persists in waging war. The union accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s government and the US of forcing drivers to suffer through the ongoing oil crisis.

Another group, Manibela, previously staged a strike on Monday to demand relief from rising fuel expenses along with the removal of the value-added tax and excise tax on fuel. The group suspended its strike on Tuesday to engage in a dialogue with the Land Transportation Office. In a statement, the organization noted that drivers and operators can no longer shoulder the continuous burden of rising fuel prices.

The Philippines most recently increased fuel prices on August 25, attributing the adjustment to geopolitical conflicts and hostilities in the Middle East that have disrupted key shipping lanes such as the Strait of Hormuz and reduced global oil supplies. In March, the nation declared a national energy emergency over price increases, becoming the first country in the world to do so. As an economy that relies heavily on imported oil, the Philippines faces heightened consumer inflation, increased transportation and logistics costs, and reduced take-home pay for drivers and low-income households.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board defended the fare adjustments as a reasonable measure, noting that rising fuel prices significantly impact both operators and the workers who rely on stable public utility vehicle operations for their livelihoods.

Reporting from Manila, Al Jazeera’s Jamila Alindogan stated that local drivers have seen their daily wages drop from $10 at the start of the year to less than $5. She noted that inflation is actively bleeding communities as goods steadily increase in price, creating a crisis for millions of Filipinos. Although the conflict in Iran and events in the Middle East triggered the crisis, many citizens feel the government can no longer use these events as an excuse for failing to address the major economic needs of the population.