Motorcycle taxi and habal-habal drivers in Cebu City are facing reduced daily earnings due to oil price hikes linked to the US-Israel war on Iran. They report waiting up to 30 minutes for passengers and higher fuel costs, often earning less than P1,000 a day. Local governments plan subsidies while transport groups stage strikes for relief.
In Cebu City, motorcycle taxi drivers like Eric Arnival and Jobert del Servandil experienced longer wait times for bookings following the second oil price hike on March 17, 2026, amid the US-Israel war on Iran. On March 18, they waited 30 minutes for passengers, compared to just minutes previously. Their earnings depend on ride volume, dropping below P1,000 on slow days. Arnival said, “Kadyut ra kaayo, ni-abot na og P250 akong tubil gahapon. Pila rato ka rides — dako na kaayo diperensya ba.” (Even for a short while, refueling reached up to P250 yesterday. It was only a few rides — there really is a huge difference.) They hope for higher booking fee shares or government fuel subsidies via a survey, and may switch to salaried driving jobs if conditions persist. Habal-habal driver Jason Tabanas noted greater challenges without fare control, adding just P5 (to P15-P25), though some passengers refuse. Tricycle driver Leavan Cabreros reported no fare increases since 2020 COVID lockdowns, forcing reduced loads amid losses. “Alkansi. Unsaon man nato ana? Wa’y bugas. Wala’y mahimo kay focus lang gihapon sa drive,” he shared. Fellow tricycle driver Paul Jake Castillo added, “Ang among tubil ani kada adlaw, pila amo tax gihatag sa gobyerno? [Dapat] ang tutokan ang kanang pamaliton.” Cebu provincial government announced fuel and rice subsidies for public transport drivers, including habal-habal, while Cebu City plans supplementary aid and a “Libreng Sakay” free bus ride program. However, Piston Cebu held a transport strike on March 19, paralyzing over 80% of jeepney operations along major routes, with 50 protesters rallying for a P5 jeepney fare hike, P55 fuel rollback, removal of 12% VAT and excise taxes on petroleum, plus long-term reforms like P1,200 minimum wage, scrapping oil deregulation, and national oil industrialization. Tabanas lamented, “Niumento na among kalisod pero ang plete mao ra.” (Our hardships have increased but our fares stay the same.)
