Transport groups under the banner of the No To Oil Price Hike Coalition have announced a nationwide strike on March 26–27 to protest relentless fuel price increases and demand stronger government action amid the ongoing oil crisis.
The coalition, comprising drivers, operators, commuters, and consumer groups, said the strike seeks to hold authorities accountable for what they described as “inaction” in the face of repeated price hikes.
Organizers outlined a six-point agenda, calling for the removal of value-added tax and excise taxes on petroleum products, a rollback of pump prices to ₱55 per liter, and the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law in favor of tighter government control over fuel pricing.
They warned that if weekly increases persist, transport groups and allied sectors would stage regular nationwide demonstrations.
Just last week, around 70,000 members of the transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide—also part of the coalition—held a strike on March 19.
Meanwhile, the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations announced its own “transport holiday” on Monday, with about 20,000 modern and traditional jeepneys expected to participate.
Malacañang responded to the growing unrest, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assuring transport workers that their concerns are being heard. In his Sunday vlog, he said:
“Naiintindihan natin ang sigaw ng mga nagpoprotesta na kababayan nating nasa sektor na ito. Pero gusto kong ulitin sa inyo — hindi kayo maiiwanan. Hindi kayo pababayaan ng pamahalaan.”