Philippine Transport Workers Launch Two-Day Strike as Fuel Costs Bite

Thousands of public transport drivers across the Philippines walked off the job on Tuesday, launching a two-day strike to demand relief from fuel prices that have climbed steadily since the outbreak of the US-Israel war on Iran earlier this year. The industrial action, led by the transport workers' union Piston, has left commuters in parts of the country scrambling for alternatives as authorities moved quickly to soften the impact.

The strike reflects mounting frustration among drivers of informal public transport vehicles, a sector that provides the backbone of daily mobility for millions of Filipinos but operates on razor-thin margins. Protesters are calling for fuel to be returned to 55 pesos (about $0.88) per litre, the level that prevailed before the conflict with Iran began in February. According to organisers, at least 70,000 drivers and operators were expected to join the stoppage.

The Philippine government responded by deploying police officers and buses to assist stranded passengers. National police spokesman Allen Rae Co said authorities had monitored 11 rallies involving 275 people in Manila, and he described the strike as having caused no significant disruption in the capital region. He added that 8,643 police personnel had been assigned to help commuters and maintain order.

The Department of Transportation announced it would offer free rides to passengers on Tuesday. In the southeastern Bicol region, state-run buses were dispatched to serve affected commuters, according to the government's Philippine News Agency.

Piston has placed the blame for the price surge squarely on the US-Israel war on Iran, arguing that the conflict has disrupted global oil flows. In a social media post, the union warned that "fuel prices will continue to rise as long as the US persists in waging war," and it accused the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Washington of allowing drivers to bear the brunt of the oil crisis.

The strike follows separate action by another transport group, Manibela, which staged its own protest on Monday. That group demanded relief from rising fuel costs and the removal of value-added tax and excise tax on fuel. Manibela suspended its strike on Tuesday to enter into a dialogue with the Land Transportation Office, saying in a statement that drivers and operators "can no longer shoulder the burden of the continuous rise in fuel prices."

The Philippines last raised fuel prices on August 25, a move attributed to geopolitical conflicts and hostilities in the Middle East that have disrupted shipping lanes, including the Strait of Hormuz, and reduced global oil supplies. The country declared a national energy emergency in March over the price increases, becoming the first nation in the world to take that step.

The Philippines is heavily dependent on imported oil, a structural vulnerability that pushes up consumer inflation as well as transportation and logistics costs. The result is a squeeze on the take-home pay of drivers and low-income households, who spend a disproportionate share of their income on fuel and basic goods.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, which oversees public transport, defended a recent fare increase as a reasonable adjustment. In a statement, the agency acknowledged that rising fuel prices affect not only operators but also the workers who depend on the continuous and stable operation of public utility vehicles for their livelihoods.

Al Jazeera's Jamila Alindogan, reporting from Manila, said drivers in the city have seen their daily wages fall from about $10 at the beginning of the year to less than $5 now. "Many here say the inflation is actually bleeding communities," she said, describing a crisis felt by millions of Filipinos nationwide.

Alindogan added that the prices of goods are also steadily climbing. While the war in Iran and events in the Middle East triggered the crisis, she noted that many Filipinos believe the government can no longer use that explanation for its inability to respond to the major economic needs of millions of citizens.

The strike highlights the political pressure building on the Marcos administration as it confronts an energy emergency, persistent inflation, and a restive transport sector. For drivers, the dispute is not abstract: it is a daily calculation of whether a day's work can cover fuel, food, and family expenses. As negotiations between transport groups and government agencies continue, the standoff underscores how distant geopolitical conflicts can translate into immediate hardship on the streets of Manila and beyond.