Hundreds of transport workers in Manila have gone on strike over soaring fuel costs, as the Philippines grapples with a worsening energy crisis.
Diesel and petrol prices have more than doubled since the outbreak of the US-Iran war 2026, prompting the government to declare a national energy emergency.
As the two-day strike began on Thursday, a vessel carrying over 700,000 barrels of Russian crude oil docked in the country.
Presidential spokesperson for Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed the arrival of the Sierra Leone-flagged tanker Sara Sky earlier in the week.
The government has been scrambling to secure alternative fuel sources, as about 98% of the country’s oil imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a region affected by the conflict.
Transport unions leading the strike are demanding sweeping reforms, including the removal of fuel taxes, price controls on oil, higher fares, and increased wages.
Protests erupted across Manila on Thursday morning, with Jeepney drivers — operators of the city’s iconic low-cost minibuses — forming the bulk of demonstrators while ride-hailing drivers also joined the action.
Many protesters say promised government assistance has failed to reach them.
“I lined up for more than five hours for cash aid, but my name was not there,” said 62-year-old driver Guillermo Japole, who supports five children. “No cash aid, no earnings, no food for the family.”
Another driver, Anjo Lilac, said financial support would help cover essentials like rent and baby milk, but he has yet to receive any assistance.
Some drivers say they may abandon the profession altogether.
“It feels like we are being choked,” said Ronnie Rillosa, a jeepney driver of 30 years. “We don’t need cash aid if the government will cut the prices of fuel, food, electricity and water.”
The strike has already disrupted daily life in Manila — one of Asia’s most congested cities — forcing commuters to queue for government-provided rides.
A 52-year-old liaison officer, Arnold Irinco, said he had waited over 30 minutes for transport but expressed sympathy for the drivers’ plight.
BBC/Maxwell Oyekunle
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