Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Bea Cuadra

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17738786532671773878648339.jpeg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) stage a transport strike along E. Rodriguez Avenue corner Araneta Avenue in Quezon City on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Transport group Piston and progressive alliance Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) launched a nationwide transport strike on Thursday morning to protest relentless <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/18/why-can-oil-firms-hike-prices-for-fuel-bought-weeks-ago-1839">oil price hikes.</a></p><p>Protesters converged at Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City for a press conference to kick off the demonstrations, which involved 15 to 20 strike centers in Metro Maninla alone. </p><p>According to BAYAN, the strike has reached key areas including Cubao, Litex, Pasig, Marikina, and Alabang, as well as major provinces such as Cavite, Bulacan, Cebu, and parts of Mindanao.</p><p>Their primary calls included the scrapping of value added tax (VAT) and excise tax on fuel, and a price rollback to P55 per liter. </p><p>The groups also sought a P5 fare increase for all public utility vehicles (PUVs) and a P1,200 across-the-board wage hike for workers.</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1948396989100339%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Piston national chairman Mody Floranda argued that current wages were no longer sustainable. </p><p>&quot;Yung ating panawagan sa gobyerno na kailangan ay ipatupad yung 1,P200 na minimum na sahod ng ating mga manggagawa para makasabay yung ating mga manggagawa dun sa pagtaas ng mga pangunahing presyo ng bilihin,&quot; Floranda said.</p><p>He added that the government’s P5,000 fuel subsidy program was a &quot;band-aid&quot; solution that would be depleted in less than two days if diesel prices continued to climb. </p><p>&quot;Sabi nga namin yung P5,000 namin ibabalik lang namin sa oil company pero hindi sa aming pamilya,&quot; he said.</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1442210407411449%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><p>Nanoy Rafael, convener of the PARA-Commuters Network, said the alleged &quot;lack of solutions&quot; from the administration was exacerbating the crisis.</p><p>&quot;So ngayong araw &#x27;no, ay inaasahan talaga natin bubuhos &#x27;yung galit ng mamamayan dahil dito sa walang, kawalan ng solusyon talaga &#x27;no ng gobyernong Marcos,&quot; Rafael said.</p><p>The transport strike comes a day after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/18/marcos-orders-dotr-suspend-fare-hike-1445">put the brakes on a public transportation fare hike</a> announced just a day earlier, promising the country&#x27;s commuters free rides instead.</p><p>Elmer De Guzman, a jeepney driver, lamented the high cost of operating a jeepney. </p><p>&quot;Dati sumosobra kami ng P300 ngayon P600 eh kinikita namin napupunta lang sa krudo,&quot; he said. </p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1630887734623415%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>The administration&#x27;s suspension of the fare hike has further dampened the spirits of transport cooperatives. </p><p>Louie Dela Paz, Secretary of the Del Marod Transport Coop, noted that many drivers are now discouraged. </p><p>&quot;Inaasahan po sana namin yung taas pamasahe kaso biglang cinancel ng ating PBBM. Eh medyo nadismaya mga drivers natin,&quot; he said.</p><p>Piston said it would file a formal petition for a P5 fare increase before the end of March. </p><p>Floranda warned that Thursday’s strike is only the beginning of a series of actions.</p><p>&quot;Panimula pa lamang itong march 19 at magkakaroon ng mga serye ng mga pagkilos... hanggat hindi pinakikinggan ni Bongbong Marcos yung ating kahilingan,&quot; he said.</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1348543337112707%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>The Philippines which imports nearly all of its crude oil from the Middle East, has been scrambling to deal with eye-watering price increases triggered by the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/3/19/israel-says-killed-iran-intel-chief-tells-military-to-hunt-down-officials-0039">US-Israeli war with Iran.</a></p><p>Since hostilities erupted, the Philippines has instituted a four-day workweek for civil servants, distributed cash handouts to tricycle drivers, and seen its sole refinery open discussions to buy Russian oil.</p><p><strong></strong>— With a report from Agence France-Presse</p><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>Transport group Piston and progressive alliance Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) launched a nationwide transport strike on Thursday morning to protest oil price hikes.</p>

Transport group Piston and progressive alliance Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) launched a nationwide transport strike on Thursday morning to protest oil price hikes.

Transport groups launch nationwide strike to protest soaring fuel costs

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Transport groups launch nationwide strike to protest soaring fuel costs

Bea Cuadra,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 19, 2026 08:05 AM PHT

|

Updated Mar 19, 2026 09:17 AM PHT

Read More:

transport strike

commute

transport

Piston

Bayan

oil prices

fuel

diesel

gasoline

Iran war

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