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Middle East conflict: Philippine transport strike looms as oil prices surge, affecting millions
About 100,000 public transport drivers would suspend their operations starting Thursday, March 19, potentially affecting about 8.9 million commuters nationwide
- PUBLISHED: Tue 17 Mar 2026, 10:55 AM UPDATED: Tue 17 Mar 2026, 12:14 PM
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A group of public transportation drivers in the Philippines announced a series of nationwide strikes to protest what they deem as “unchecked profiteering” by oil companies amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
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About 100,000 public drivers would suspend their operations starting Thursday, March 19, the country’s biggest transport federation Piston said, potentially affecting about 8.9 million commuters nationwide.
Piston said they have no choice but to stop plying their routes while the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. government is unwilling to exercise price control on petroleum products.
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“Public transport drivers no longer earn anything. Our suffering would definitely affect the commuters as well,” Piston president Mody Floranda said in a roadside press briefing.
Piston’s announcement came as the Philippines implements its third consecutive “mega price hike” on Tuesday, March 17, with diesel prices reaching beyond P120/litre (Dh7.50) while petrol prices are at P96/litre (Dh6)
The transport federation earlier demanded a temporary fare hike of P5 (30 fils) and the scrapping of all taxes on petroleum products, including excise and value added taxes.
Piston added the government must also scrap its deregulation policy on the oil industry that allows oil companies to hide actual profits.
The group underscored "the government must centralise the procurement of petroleum products from foreign sources and re-nationalise its biggest petrol retailer Petron Corp."
Subsidies instead of tax suspension
Meanwhile, the Marcos government has started its fuel subsidy rollout to sectors most affected by the “oil shock.”
Government agencies have started giving P5,000 (Dh310) cash aid to tricycle drivers on Tuesday, March 17. Fisher folk and farmers, as well as public transport drivers will also be provided financial assistane.
The Department of Transportation meanwhile announced its approval of a P1.00 fare hike for regular buses and P2.00 for air-conditioned vehicles, increasing basic fares from P13 to P15 for the first four kilometers of the commute.
The agency however refused to comment on pending fare hike petitions by taxi and tricycle drivers.