Transport groups set strike on March 26-27 amid rising fuel prices

Several transport groups across different modes are set to stage on March 26 to 27 a simultaneous nationwide strike to protest rising fuel prices. 

At a press press conference on Monday, PISTON national president Mody Floranda said that public utility jeepneys (PUJ) and buses (PUB), utility vehicle express (UVE), transportation network vehicle services (TNVS), and motorcycle taxis (MC), among others will participate in the protest.

“Napagkaisahan po ng alyansa ay ilulunsad po natin at dinedeklara po namin ngayon araw kasama ang iba’t ibang sektor na may magaganap na transport strike sa buong bansa,” Floranda said.

(The alliance has agreed that we will launch and declare today, together with various sectors, a transport strike nationwide.)

“Magmumula po yang ng March 26 hanggang 27,” he added.

(It will start from March 26 to 27.)

Participating groups call for lower fuel prices, removal of excise tax, and the scrapping of Oil Deregulation law, among others.

The protest actions will culminate in a march from Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City to Mendiola in Manila on March 27.

The “No To Oil Price Hike Coalition” is pushing for several measures to address the oil crisis, including the rollback of fuel prices, removal of taxes on petroleum products, and the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation Law.

Transport workers said the surge in fuel prices has severely affected their livelihood. 

The coalition criticized the government for relying on temporary aid instead of long-term solutions. They also questioned continued fuel price hikes despite sufficient supply.

At a separate press conference, Mar Valbuena of transport group MANIBELA also announced that they will be conducting a two-day transport strike on March 26 to 27 citing the government’s lack of response to the worsening conditions faced by drivers and transport workers.

According to a report of Super Radyo dzBB's Manny Vargas, Valbuena said the continued rise in fuel prices has forced them to push through with the protest action.

He noted that the impact of oil price hikes is being felt not only by public utility vehicle drivers but also by cargo truck operators, TNVS drivers, and motorcycle riders, many of whom are struggling to bring home enough income for their families.

Valbuena also raised concerns over income losses caused by passengers who fail to pay fares, further affecting the daily earnings of drivers.

While the strike is scheduled for Thursday and Friday, some drivers may stop plying their routes as early as Wednesday.

???????????????????????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ????????????????????-????????????????????????

Grupong MANIBELA at mga kaalyadong grupong transportasyon, maglulunsad ng dalawang araw na tigil-pasada simula sa Huwebes hanggang Biyernes, March 26 hanggang March 27, 2026. | via @VargasMannysen pic.twitter.com/4xZAdfoOVp

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) March 23, 2026

—AOL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News