Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Eon Sanchez

ABS-CBN News

<div style="text-align:center"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F2924104984603307%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>MANILA — Jeepney drivers and operators belonging to the transport group Manibela gathered at Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City before marching toward Mendiola in Manila on Friday, marking the final day of their three-day transport strike.</p><p>Hundreds of members joined the mobilization, carrying placards calling for the rollback of fuel prices.</p><p>At around 7:30 a.m., the group began their march and reached Mendiola before 9 a.m.</p><p>Authorities said around 200 police personnel were deployed in the area to maintain order, with barbed wires and concrete barriers set up along roads leading to Malacañang.</p><p>The group reiterated its calls to scrap the excise tax and value-added tax on fuel, as well as repeal the Oil Deregulation Law.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/14/why-were-diesel-gasoline-excluded-from-excise-tax-cuts-0950">Why were diesel, gasoline excluded from excise tax cuts?</a></div><p>They also pushed for fuel prices to be reduced to around P50 to P60 per liter.</p><p>Manibela chairperson Mar Valbuena said the march aimed to bring their appeal closer to Malacañang.</p><p>“Ngayong araw at magmamartsa tayo mula dito sa Welcome Rotondo papuntang Mendiola para kalampagin ang Malacañang, ang ating pangulo,” Valbuena said.</p><p>“Baka mas marinig niya kung mas malapit na tayo sa kanya upang ipanawagan yung pag-rollback ng presyo ng petrolyo doon sa tamang presyo na hindi hinuhulaan lamang at hindi pinagtatanggol yung mga oil companies.”</p><p>He added that fuel prices should be rolled back to around P55 to P60 per liter.</p><p>“Ang rollback po dapat ay nasa P55 to P60 dahil nga alam namin na nung unang linggo, pangalawang linggo, hanggang isang buwan, pera ng taong bayan ang ipinangtutustos,” he said.</p><p>Valbuena was seen shaking hands with Barbosa Police Station Commander PLtCol Jolly Soriano upon their arrival.</p><p>Police allowed the group to hold a short program in Mendiola to air their grievances, while ensuring that the intersection remained passable to motorists.</p><p>Drivers who joined the protest lamented the continued rise in fuel prices, saying it had severely affected their daily earnings.</p><p>“Sa totoo lang talaga, hindi naman talaga namin kailangan ng ayuda. Ang pinaka-kailangan namin yung pang-araw-araw naming ginagamit,” said jeepney driver Estiban Fundador, who had been in the industry for 12 years.</p><p>“Ang pinakauna naming pang-araw-araw na gamit [ay] langis, diesel, o gasolina. Dahil sa sobrang taas ng diesel o gasolina, wala na kaming kinikita.”</p><p>Another driver, Rodolfo Ogsila, who has been driving for 22 years, said his income barely covers daily needs.</p><p>“Sa ngayon, halos pangkain lang, makaraos lang sa maghapon… Wala kaming halos naiipon,” he said.</p><p>Ogsila also brought along his 10-year-old child during the protest to show the reality of their situation.</p><p>“At least nakikita niya ako na sumasama sa ganito. Tyaka isa pa, tatlo lang kami ng nanay niya,” he said, adding that his child insists on joining him in such activities.</p><p>Despite the end of their three-day strike, the group said it would continue to press the government for long-term solutions to address rising fuel costs and did not rule out the possibility of future transport protests.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/4/16/big-rollbacks-expected-again-next-week-1438">Big rollbacks expected again next week</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPhkaJA1huU?si=nuOdLa4BDgzIJI9n" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Jeepney drivers and operators belonging to the transport group Manibela gathered at Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City before marching toward Mendiola in Manila on Friday morning, April 17, marking the final day of their three-day transport strike.</p>

Jeepney drivers and operators belonging to the transport group Manibela gathered at Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City before marching toward Mendiola in Manila on Friday morning, April 17, marking the final day of their three-day transport strike.

Manibela demands P55–P60 fuel price rollback in Welcome Rotonda to Mendiola protest march

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Manibela demands P55–P60 fuel price rollback in Welcome Rotonda to Mendiola protest march

Eon Sanchez,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 17, 2026 10:31 AM PHT

Read More:

Manibela

transport group

oil prices

protest

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