Philippine Transport Drivers Launch Two-Day Strike as Soaring Fuel Costs Spark Nationwide Anger

Thousands of public transport drivers across the Philippines walked off the job on Tuesday, launching a two-day strike to demand relief from fuel prices that have climbed relentlessly since the outbreak of the US-Israel war on Iran earlier this year. The action, organised by the transport workers' union Piston, paralysed routes in parts of the capital and forced the government to deploy police and buses to assist stranded commuters.

Protesters are calling for pump prices to be returned to 55 pesos (about $0.88) per litre, the level that prevailed before the conflict in the Middle East began in February. Organisers estimated that at least 70,000 drivers and operators would participate in the strike, making it one of the largest transport sector demonstrations since the fuel crisis took hold.

The Philippine National Police moved quickly to minimise disruption. Spokesman Allen Rae Co said authorities had monitored 11 rallies involving 275 people in Manila, and that the strike had not caused significant upheaval in the capital region. He added that 8,643 police personnel were deployed to help commuters and maintain order. The Department of Transportation responded by offering free rides to passengers on Tuesday, while in the southeastern Bicol region, authorities dispatched buses to assist those affected, according to the state-run Philippine News Agency.

The striking drivers place the blame squarely on the geopolitical conflict that has roiled global energy markets. Piston said in a social media post that fuel prices "will continue to rise as long as the US persists in waging war," accusing the government of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and the United States of allowing drivers to suffer through the oil crisis. The union argues that the conflict has disrupted shipping lanes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, choking global oil supplies and driving up costs at the pump.

The strike follows separate industrial action by another transport group, Manibela, which staged its own walkout on Monday. Manibela, which uses the image of a steering wheel as its emblem, demanded relief from rising fuel costs as well as the removal of value-added tax and excise tax on petroleum products. The group suspended its strike on Tuesday to enter into a dialogue with the Land Transportation Office. In a statement, Manibela said drivers and operators "can no longer shoulder the burden of the continuous rise in fuel prices."

The Philippines has been hit particularly hard because of its heavy reliance on imported oil. Successive price increases have pushed up consumer inflation and raised transportation and logistics costs, eating into the take-home pay of drivers and low-income households. The most recent hike came on August 25, which authorities attributed to geopolitical conflicts and hostilities in the Middle East that have disrupted shipping lanes and reduced global oil supplies. The government had already declared a national energy emergency in March over the increases, becoming the first country in the world to do so.

The fare-setting Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board defended its decisions, describing a recent fare increase as a reasonable adjustment. The agency acknowledged that "rising fuel prices significantly impact not only operators but also the workers who rely on the continuous and stable operation of public utility vehicles for their livelihood."

Al Jazeera's Jamila Alindogan, reporting from Manila, said drivers in the city have seen their daily earnings collapse from about $10 at the beginning of the year to less than $5 now. "Many here say the inflation is actually bleeding communities," she said. She noted that the prices of goods are also steadily climbing, creating a crisis felt by millions of Filipinos across the archipelago.

The human toll extends beyond the transport sector. With fuel costs feeding into the price of food, transport and basic services, ordinary families are struggling to make ends meet. Drivers who once earned a modest but livable daily wage now find themselves working longer hours for less money, while commuters face the twin burden of higher fares and unreliable service.

The Marcos administration faces mounting pressure to respond to the crisis. While officials have pointed to the global nature of the oil shock, critics argue that the government has been slow to provide meaningful relief. Calls have grown for fuel subsidies for public transport operators and for the removal of taxes on petroleum products, measures that would directly lower costs at the pump but would also reduce state revenues.

The strike also highlights the vulnerability of the Philippines' informal transport sector, which employs hundreds of thousands of drivers and operators. These workers rely on daily earnings and have little cushion against sudden price shocks. Unlike formal sector employees, they do not receive fuel allowances or other subsidies, and many operate jeepneys and other vehicles that are aging and fuel-inefficient.

Analysts say the unrest could spread if fuel prices continue to climb. The Philippines imports nearly all of its crude oil, leaving it exposed to swings in global markets and geopolitical developments far beyond its borders. The Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of the world's oil passes, remains a flashpoint, and any further escalation could send prices even higher.

For now, the two-day strike serves as a stark reminder of how distant conflicts can reverberate in the daily lives of working people thousands of kilometres away. As drivers return to the streets, their message to the government is clear: the time for excuses has passed, and concrete relief is needed before more families are pushed to the brink. Whether the administration can deliver that relief — and at what cost to its budget — remains the central question hanging over Manila as the fuel crisis deepens.