In the Philippines, a sharp rise in fuel prices has triggered a nationwide mobilisation of transport workers, exposing a deep-rooted crisis that extends far beyond the sector itself. The war waged by the United States and Israel against Iran has exacerbated volatility in energy prices and further weakened fuel-dependent economies such as the Philippines.
In the space of just a few months, the price of diesel has more than doubled, leaving thousands of drivers in an untenable situation. Jeepneys, buses, motorbike taxis and ride-hailing drivers have all been affected. In response to these unsustainable conditions, drivers’ organisations—led by the powerful PISTON-KMU union—called a new national transport strike on 26 and 27 March, expanding the mobilisation across regions and categories of workers.
Working without earning: a daily reality
Our partner Gabriela, tells the story of Tatay Arnel, a jeepney driver, who explains that once he has paid for fuel and covered his daily expenses, he is sometimes left with less than one euro a day to support his family. This is not an isolated case: many drivers find themselves working a full day for almost no income, or sometimes even at a loss. For Gabriela, the crisis is felt on a daily basis by families, and rising prices have a direct impact on household incomes.
The effects of rising fuel costs extend far beyond the transport sector. Higher production and transport costs are passed on to consumers, affecting the price of basic necessities and placing even greater pressure on households. Farmers—already among the most vulnerable groups in Philippine society—are seeing their incomes fall, whilst the overall economic outlook continues to deteriorate.
In this context, Viva Salud’s partners are warning of a worrying trend: an energy crisis that is rapidly turning into a major social crisis, exacerbating inequality and undermining already fragile livelihoods.
Despite the scale of the movement, the government’s responses have been limited and temporary. Some drivers have received one-off financial assistance, but these payments cover only a small fraction of the actual costs caused by soaring fuel prices.
A mobilisation rooted in a wider struggle
Faced with this crisis, the organisations involved are not content with one-off solutions. They are putting forward structural demands aimed at fundamentally transforming the current system, including:
- an immediate reduction in fuel prices
- the abolition of taxes on petroleum products
- a substantial increase in the minimum wage towards a living wage
- support for drivers’ demands for a fare increase
- a re-examination of the deregulation of the oil sector
These demands reflect a clear determination on the part of the social movement to tackle the root causes of the crisis, rather than merely its symptoms.
For our partner organisation Karapatan, the lack of structural responses amounts to “a violation of workers’ economic rights”. Karapatan emphasises that strikers are simply exercising their right to protest in the face of conditions that have become objectively unbearable. The organisation also highlights the role of international dynamics in worsening living conditions in the Philippines on a much broader scale.
For Viva Salud’s partners, the current mobilisation extends far beyond the transport sector. It forms part of a wider struggle for social, economic and political justice, in a context where international crises are exacerbating inequalities that are already deeply entrenched.
