Transport workers and commuter groups launched a nationwide strike in the Philippines today, March 26 with protests centered along Aurora Boulevard in Quezon City, Metro Manila as anger grows over soaring fuel prices and government energy policies.
The mobilization, led by the No To Oil Price Hike Coalition and spearheaded by transport group PISTON, drew drivers, commuters and student groups demanding immediate action to lower costs. Protesters are calling for fuel prices to be reduced to 55 pesos per liter, the removal of Value Added Tax and excise taxes on petroleum, and the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law, which they blame for unchecked price increases.
PISTON president Mody Floranda said the strike follows earlier demonstrations in March and reflects mounting frustration over what groups see as government inaction. Although the Senate has scheduled hearings on the issue, he noted that no concrete measures have yet been introduced.
The nationwide strike comes following President Marcos Jr.’s declaration of a state of national energy emergency on Tuesday, March 24 over what he described as the “imminent danger” posed to the country’s energy supply by the ongoing US-“Israeli” war on Iran.
With diesel prices reportedly reaching 120 pesos (roughly US$7) per liter in the National Capital Region, Floranda argued that existing fuel subsidies and cash assistance programs are insufficient, lasting drivers barely more than a day.
Commuter advocates echoed the criticism, saying the transport crisis stems not from the strike but from long-standing government neglect. Nanoy Rafael of the PARA Commuters Network said taxes alone account for roughly 21 pesos per liter of diesel which is 17.5% of the total retail price, placing a heavy burden on drivers whose daily fuel consumption can rival the country’s minimum wage in tax costs.
“If VAT and excise taxes were removed, drivers could gain up to 18,000 pesos more per month,” Rafael said, underscoring the scale of the financial strain.
The protests have spread beyond Aurora Boulevard, with additional actions taking place in Philcoa involving groups such as MANIBELA and members of the University of the Philippines community. Demonstrators there voiced frustration over what they described as inadequate and unevenly distributed government aid.
Transport leader Oliver Manalili dismissed the government’s 5,000-peso subsidy (roughly US$281) as insufficient, while Nolan Grulla expressed anger over not being included among beneficiaries, calling the distribution process opaque and ineffective.
Some protesters proposed alternative solutions, including direct fuel discounts at gas stations, arguing that such measures would provide more immediate and practical relief than one-time cash assistance.
Commuters are also feeling the impact. Myra San Miguel, a regular passenger, said she has stopped taking change from drivers in an effort to help them cope with rising costs, reflecting a growing sense of shared hardship.
As the strike continues, organizers warn that further increases—potentially pushing diesel prices to 130 pesos per liter—could paralyze both public and private transport nationwide.
Protesters plan to continue mobilizing throughout the day, with groups heading toward Nagtahan and others gathering near the National Housing Authority, as calls grow for broader public support.
The demontrators highlight deepening unease among Filipinos over high fuel pricing, and growing economic inequality, with transport workers and commuters united in demanding structural reforms rather than temporary relief.
