A two-day labor action commenced on Tuesday in the Philippines, organized by Piston, a transport workers’ union, as drivers of informal public transport vehicles halted operations to protest elevated fuel costs. The strikers called for a reduction in fuel prices to 55 pesos per litre, a level that existed before recent geopolitical tensions escalated. Union organizers estimated that at least 70,000 drivers and operators participated in the action.
Government authorities responded by deploying significant resources to mitigate disruptions. National police spokesman Allen Rae Co reported that approximately 8,643 police personnel were assigned to assist commuters and maintain order, while the Department of Transportation announced complimentary public transportation services on Tuesday. In the Bicol region, authorities dispatched additional buses to accommodate affected travelers. Police officials characterized the impact as limited, noting that 11 rallies in Manila involved roughly 275 participants without significant disruption to the capital region.
Workers and advocacy groups attributed the fuel price increases to Middle Eastern geopolitical conflicts and supply chain disruptions affecting the Strait of Hormuz, which constrains global oil availability. In March, the Philippines had declared a national energy emergency, becoming the first country to take such action. The most recent fuel price adjustment occurred on August 25. A second labor organization, Manibela, had staged its own strike on Monday but suspended activities on Tuesday to engage in discussions with the Land Transportation Office.
The sustained price increases have created substantial economic hardship for transport sector workers and low-income households throughout the country. Field reporting indicated that daily wages for Manila drivers had declined from approximately $10 at the start of the year to under $5 currently. Labor representatives emphasized that transportation workers and dependent communities could no longer absorb mounting operational costs, while broader consumer inflation affecting goods prices compounded the economic strain affecting millions of Filipinos nationwide.
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