MANILA, Philippines — Commuters across the country should prepare for significant travel disruptions as the transport group Manibela has announced a three-day nationwide strike from Wednesday, April 15, to Friday, April 17, 2026.
The group, led by chairman Mar Valbuena, is demanding that the government go beyond the recently announced fuel price rollbacks and implement a full suspension of excise taxes and Value-Added Tax (VAT) on all petroleum products.
Valbuena stated that approximately 80,000 members are expected to join the mass action. The strike will affect several major urban centers:
- Metro Manila: Anticipated to be the focal point of the protests.
- Visayas: Major cities including Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Tacloban, Ormoc, Samar, Catbalogan, and Catarman.
- Mindanao: Key hubs such as Davao, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos City, Iligan, and Ozamiz.
- Other Sectors: The strike will also be joined by the United Transport Alliance Nationwide, as well as representatives from motorcycle taxis and transport network vehicle services (TNVS).
The strike is a protest against what Valbuena describes as the “insufficient” response of the Marcos administration to the ongoing energy emergency.
- Fuel Tax Suspension: Manibela insists that both excise taxes and VAT be removed to lower pump prices further. They are calling for diesel—the primary fuel for public utility vehicles (PUVs)—to be priced at at least ₱55 per liter.
- Infrastructure Critique: Valbuena dismissed Energy Secretary Sharon Garin’s earlier statements that destroyed regional energy infrastructure would prevent prices from dropping to ₱60 levels, arguing that global price drops should be reflected locally regardless of infrastructure status.
- Service Contracting Concerns: The group also criticized the government’s service contracting program, set to begin on the first day of the strike, claiming it is underfunded and benefits only a small fraction of the driving population.
Palace press officer Claire Castro appealed to the transport group to reconsider, emphasizing that the President does not have the legal authority to suspend VAT without new legislation from Congress.
“A strike would not be helpful at a time when negotiation, dialogue, and cooperation are necessary,” Castro said during a press briefing. The administration also pointed to the ₱20+ per liter rollback in diesel prices scheduled for today, Tuesday, as evidence of significant relief already reaching the sector.
Commuters are encouraged to:
- Plan Ahead: Leave earlier than usual or explore alternative modes of transport during the three-day window.
- Work from Home: If possible, employers are encouraged to allow remote work to ease the burden on public transport.
- Check Local Advisories: Local government units (LGUs) may provide “Libreng Sakay” (free rides) using government vehicles to ferry stranded passengers.
This is the third major transport strike of 2026, following similar protests by the group Piston in March, as the battle over energy costs continues to paralyze the nation’s transit systems.