Jamaine Punzalan

Members of the transport group Manibela hold a protest at the Mendiola Bridge in Manila on April 17, 2026, calling for an immediate fuel price rollback. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Christopher Sitson

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/178468921313120260417-manibela-protest-mendiola-JC2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of the transport group Manibela hold a protest at the Mendiola Bridge in Manila on April 17, 2026, calling for an immediate fuel price rollback. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Some commuters struggled to catch a ride as the two-day transport strike by transport group Manibela began Wednesday at Philcoa along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.</p><p>At around 5 a.m., members of the group stopped plying their routes in solidarity with the strike.</p><p>BPO employee Cristopher Ureta, who traveled from Fairview, waited longer compared to previous days to get a ride to his workplace.</p><p>“Kakarating ko lang dito pero ang hirap sumakay. Matagal akong nag-aantay, madalas kasi nakakasakay din agad,” he said. </p><p>Ureta supports Manibela’s appeal for a fare increase to help jeepney drivers affected by rising fuel prices but also hopes that salaries in the BPO industry will increase.</p><p>“Apektado rin naman kasi sila since patong-patong yan. Sana naman yung pasahod sa mga nagtatrabaho, tumaas din. Unti-unti tumataas ang pamasahe, tumataas ang bilihin, pero kami narito pa rin sa ganitong wage,” he said. </p><p>Senior high school student Akira Shane Billones, who came from Batasan, Quezon City, waited about 30 minutes before finding a ride to Philcoa. She was on her way to España, Manila.</p><p>“Medyo mahirap po kahit inagahan ko ang hirap pa rin makasakay. Mas iba po ngayon kasi mas matagal siya. Mga 30 minutes naghintay bago makarating dito,” she said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/21/transport-group-renews-call-for-p23-minimum-fare-scrapping-of-oil-taxes-1301">Transport group renews call for P23 minimum fare, scrapping of oil taxes </a></div><p>When asked about Manibela’s proposed P2 fare increase, Billones said, “As a student and a commuter malaking impact po yun sa amin para sa katulad ko na nag-iipon din po.”</p><p>Housekeeping employee Jhonwel Pacne was also affected by the transport strike while commuting to work in Mandaluyong.</p><p>“Kahit hindi na sahod yung tumaas basta yung bilihin bumaba okay na rin yun. Kasi kawawa rin po yung mga jeepney driver wala ring kita,” he said. </p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1642038536862135%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="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </span>Manibela is set to proceed to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) office along East Avenue to file a petition seeking a fare increase.</div><p>“Noong Marso pa, long overdue na mahal na pangulo yung fare increase upang maibsan yung paghihirap ng mamamayang Pilipino lalo na po nung mga pobreng tsuper. Ito’y hindi para kami yumaman, bagkus para maka-survive sa krisis na ito,” Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena said.</p><p>The group is also awaiting <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/20/marcos-5th-sona-to-be-simple-but-dignified-palace-1557">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) </a>for any announcements regarding plans for the transport sector.</p><p>“Gusto nating iparating sa pamahalaan, ano na ang kongkretong solusyon na pwedeng pakinabangan ng mamamayang Pilipino? Kayong mga nakaupo riyan, assignment niyo yan. Wag nyo ibato sa amin. Ano ba ang naiisip nyong solusyon?” Valbuena said.</p><p>“Kung hindi maibibigay itong fare adjustment na hinihingi natin, ang grado ng ating pangulo ay bagsak. Dahil walang naitulong sa sektor ng transportasyon bukod sa ayuda, na maiangat ang kabuhayan ng bawat tsuper, motorista, mamamayan na gumagamit nito,” he added.</p><p>According to the Valbuena, the group will also file a case against an LTFRB Region 3 personnel over alleged harassment.</p><p>The two-day transport strike could be extended to Friday depending on the response of regulators to the group&#x27;s demands.</p><p>The group&#x27;s calls remain unchanged: lower oil prices, repeal the Oil Deregulation Law, and implement a fare increase.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JoiNk2RyxuE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Some commuters struggled to catch a ride as the two-day transport strike by transport group Manibela began Wednesday at Philcoa along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.</p>

Some commuters struggled to catch a ride as the two-day transport strike by transport group Manibela began Wednesday at Philcoa along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

Manibela kicks off two-day transport strike; some commuters affected

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Manibela kicks off two-day transport strike; some commuters affected

Christopher Sitson,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 22, 2026 11:02 AM PHT

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oil price hike

fare increase

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