Transport and commuter groups started a two-day nationwide strike on Thursday, launching protests along Aurora Boulevard in Cubao, Quezon City, to oppose soaring fuel prices and call for the repeal of energy-related taxes.
The strike prompted several schools and universities to suspend in-person classes on March 26 and 27, shifting instead to online or flexible learning arrangements.
Among those that moved classes online were the University of the Philippines Diliman and Manila campuses, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, Tarlac State University, Adamson University, and Centro Escolar University.
Local governments also implemented class suspensions. In Laguna, face-to-face classes at all levels, both public and private, were halted, with schools directed to adopt modular or online learning.
The “No to Oil Price Hike” Coalition, led by Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON), spearheaded the strike, with demonstrations also held in Philcoa and other areas.
Protesters urged the government to reduce fuel prices to P55 per liter, scrap the value-added tax and excise taxes on petroleum, and repeal the Oil Deregulation Law, which they blame for unchecked price increases.
PISTON president Modesto Floranda said their demands remain unchanged despite earlier protests, noting that while the Senate scheduled a hearing on the issue, authorities have yet to present concrete solutions.
He also criticized fuel subsidies and cash assistance as temporary relief, saying these fail to address the root causes of the crisis. Floranda claimed diesel prices have reached as high as P120 per liter in Metro Manila, with aid to drivers lasting barely a day and a half.
Commuter group PARA Commuters Network echoed the sentiment, arguing that transport shortages stem from government policies and inaction rather than the strike itself.
“It’s not the strike that’s making it hard for us to get a ride, but the policies and the lack of action on the oil crisis,” said convener Nanoy Rafael.
Rafael added that taxes account for about P21 per liter of diesel, meaning a driver consuming 30 liters daily pays an amount nearly equal to the minimum wage in taxes alone.
Other groups, including Manibela and members of the University of the Philippines community, also joined the protests. Some drivers criticized the P5,000 fuel subsidy as insufficient, while others said they were excluded from the list of beneficiaries.
As the strike continued, Floranda warned that fuel prices reaching P130 per liter could paralyze both public transport and private vehicle use.
Protesters were expected to continue demonstrations, with some groups heading to Nagtahan in Manila and others proceeding to the National Housing Authority later in the day.
Traffic flow in the National Capital Region was uninterrupted Thursday morning, with no reports of stranded passengers, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
The MMDA issued the initial report as members of PISTON and allied groups began the two-day transport strike.
The agency, however, said it has prepared assets and rescue vehicles to ensure passengers are not affected, alongside the implementation of a single dispatch system to avoid competition with drivers operating during the strike.
On Wednesday, the MMDA reactivated the Emergency Operations Center to monitor traffic conditions during the protest rallies.
Under the directive of MMDA chair Romando Artes, Epifanio de los Santos Avenue and other major roads in Metro Manila are being monitored through closed-circuit television cameras at the MMDA Communications and Command Center.
MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre III earlier said authorities will closely monitor the two-day transport strike and are prepared to provide free rides if needed.
The MMDA is also coordinating with the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to ensure security and public safety during the protests.
Torre emphasized that free ride buses are available but will only be activated if passengers are stranded, to prevent disruptions for drivers who opted not to participate in the strike.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Transport strike disrupts commute; schools shift to online”
