A nationwide transport strike in the Philippines is set to begin Thursday, March 19, as drivers and operators protest rising fuel prices that have been tied to ongoing tensions in the Middle East involving the United States and Iran.
Transport group Piston (Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide / Unity of Drivers and Operators Groups Nationwide) said around 100,000 of its members are expected to participate in the strike across Metro Manila and other parts of the country. The action was announced by Piston National President Mody Floranda during a press conference in Quezon City on Monday.
“On March 19, we will launch, not only in the National Capital Region but throughout the country, a protest and strike led by drivers and operators and the masses against the inaction of President Bongbong Marcos’ administration and against US aggression, which is causing hardship to the Filipino people,” Floranda said.
Floranda said the strike is intended to protest continued increases in oil prices and to call attention to their impact on public transport workers. Diesel prices are projected to approach P100 per liter, with the possibility of further increases if global supply conditions tighten.
According to Piston, a jeepney driver consuming about 30 liters of diesel per day could lose up to P3,600 daily if prices reach P120 per liter. The group said the government’s P5,000 fuel subsidy is insufficient to offset rising operating costs.
According to Floranda, Congress should abolish the value-added tax (VAT) and excise tax on fuel products. He added that the Marcos administration should scrap the Oil Deregulation Law, which gave companies free rein over fuel prices.
Piston said it plans to file a petition seeking a PHP5 increase in jeepney fares. The group is also urging the government to roll back fuel prices and review existing policies affecting the oil industry.
A commuters’ advocacy group PARA has expressed support for the strike, citing the impact of fuel prices on both drivers and passengers. The group is also calling for the removal of value-added tax on fuel and the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law.
PARA also linked the planned strike to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, describing it as a protest against what it called an illegal war by the United States against Iran. The group said US actions in the region are tied to efforts to gain control over global oil supplies, which in turn contributes to price volatility affecting countries dependent on fuel imports.
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Iran recently announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, opening it only to its allies. Around 95% of the Philippines’ crude oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
The administration of Bongbong Marcos has not issued a detailed response to the planned strike but has previously implemented fuel subsidies for transport workers. The strike is expected to affect public transportation services in several urban and provincial areas. Organizers said the action will continue until their demands are addressed.
