In a report by ABS-CBN, transport group Manibela announced that a transport strike will be held from April 15 to April 17, 2026, at Philcoa in Quezon City, with 500,000 attendees comprising jeepney, motorcycle-taxi, and TNVS drivers expected to attend.
The protest aims to call for action as the transport sector continues to experience severe economic strain amid high fuel prices. According to Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena, drivers are taking home as little as P150 to P200 a day after paying for diesel.
“Makakabuhay po ba ng pamilya ito?” asked Valbuena. “Kaya po bang buhayin ng P150 to P200 ang isang pamilya—ang may pinag-aaral, ang mga may sakit?”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the rollback of fuel prices for the week of April 14, with diesel adjusting by P20.89 per liter, gasoline by P4.43 per liter, and kerosene by P8.50 per liter. This was also confirmed by the Department of Energy, which had a meeting with oil companies to align this adjustment.
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In an interview with private sector representative and former energy secretary Rene Almendra, both the government and oil sector confirmed that the country has enough fuel supply up to May 2026. For context, the country’s fuel inventory can store no more than 60 days’ worth of supply.
Almendras said that supply is available, but the problem lies in the cost of purchasing oil from foreign suppliers, leading to inflation. Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump has ordered the US military to block ships from entering and exiting the Straight of Hormuz earlier today, following failed peace talks with Iran, adding further complications to expect in the coming weeks.
