The planned transport strike on April 16 and 17, 2026 in Bacolod City will no longer push through.

But up to 1,000 PUJ drivers in the city did not travel morning on Wednesday, April 15, to air their grievances on the effects of the fuel crisis to their livelihood.

Boy Cuambat, a driver, said he drives up to 12 hours a day only to earn P300, an amount that is barely enough to put food on his family’s table.

“Pagtaas ng presyo ng produktong petrolyo, iyan ang nararamdaman namin. Gutom talaga,” he said.

He hopes the government can do something to bring back down the prices of fuel, which has skyrocketed in recent weeks due to the tensions in the Middle East.

Drivers gathered for a rally under the Bata and Magsaysay flyovers.

“Panagwagan kay BBM, ngayon ay dapat tanggalin na ang excise tax, ang VAT,” said Jun Asis, secretary general of SSTONE.

Several priests from the Diocese of Bacolod also supported the rally.

“Ibalik ang regulation law. Ang gobyerno ang dapat mag-regulate ng mga cartel,” said Fr. Arman Onion, provincial coordinator of the One Negros Ecumenical Council.

Drivers went back to the streets by 9 a.m.

Lilian Sembrano, president of KNETCO, said that even if the planned strikes will not push through on April 16 and 17, this does not mean that the activity on April 15 would be the last.