MANILA, Philippines — Transport group Manibela launched a three-day nationwide strike on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, paralyzing key routes in Metro Manila and major provincial cities.
Chairperson Mar Valbuena criticized the Marcos administration’s current relief measures as “band-aid solutions,” arguing that one-time fuel subsidies and cash assistance fail to address the systemic crisis caused by the nearly 200% increase in diesel prices since the Middle East conflict began in late February.
The group is holding firm on the same core demands it presented during its March 26 demonstration:
- Oil Price Rollback: Immediate reduction in the retail price of fuel.
- Repeal of Oil Deregulation Law: Re-imposing government control over fuel pricing.
- Tax Removal: Scrapping the Value Added Tax (VAT) and excise tax on all fuel products.
Valbuena specifically targeted Republic Act No. 12136, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed on March 25. The law allows the President to suspend or reduce fuel excise taxes if Dubai crude exceeds $80 per barrel for 30 days.
While the President recently suspended excise taxes for LPG and kerosene, Valbuena questioned why diesel—the primary fuel for public utility vehicles (PUVs)—was excluded.
“Until now, they have not implemented anything for diesel and it seems that they don’t want to,” Valbuena told reporters. “Why not suspend the excise tax on what is consumed more, especially by drivers?”
Around 80,000 members are expected to participate across the country. Major affected areas include:
- Luzon: Metro Manila.
- Visayas: Cebu, Bacolod, Iloilo, Tacloban, Ormoc, Samar, Catbalogan, Catarman.
- Mindanao: Iligan, Ozamiz, General Santos City, Davao, Cagayan de Oro.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has urged strike organizers to instead participate in the government’s PUV service contracting program, which offers fixed payments to drivers regardless of passenger count.
However, Manibela remains skeptical, claiming the program’s rollout is too slow and the payments are insufficient to cover the current cost of operations. The strike is scheduled to continue through Friday, April 17, unless a breakthrough in negotiations occurs.