Transport group Manibela announced a nationwide strike from April 15 to 17, coinciding with the government's service contracting program rollout. The action responds to high fuel prices and demands a rollback to P55 per liter. Chairman Mar Valbuena criticized the government's inadequate response to oil price shocks.
At a press conference on Monday, Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena said the group will lead the strike involving at least 500,000 public utility vehicle operators and drivers from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Valbuena highlighted that oil companies profited P35 billion from fuel price hikes over the past 45 days due to the Middle East conflict, with increases doubling or tripling. "We don’t believe the government cannot do something about this," he said, noting the Department of Energy failed to act. Drivers spend P2,800 on diesel for take-home pay of only P100-200, and 45 percent of Manibela members have stopped routes.
He criticized the service contracting program as limited to 50,000 units and poorly coordinated, and President Marcos' refusal to suspend oil taxes despite authority. "You’ve already been given the power, but you still refuse to use it. Are you complicit?" Valbuena asked. He also called for DOE Secretary Sharon Garin's resignation.
Malacañang responded that the strike is untimely. Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro urged transport groups to help find solutions to rising fuel prices, adding that the sector has been prioritized by the administration.
