As part of broader nationwide transport strikes after President Marcos Jr. declared a national energy emergency, transport groups, labor unions, and commuters called for concrete actions on the continued increase in oil prices, new tax burdens on petroleum imports, and relief to workers and commuters.
Launching the citywide strike on March 26, 2026, Davao City drivers and operators of public utility vehicles, students, and commuters set up the three strike centers in Matina Crossing, Buhangin, and Bunawan Proper.
Kilusang Mayo Uno – Southern Mindanao Region (KMU-SMR) Vice Chairperson Reneboy Baliguat said that the sharp rise in diesel prices has devastated the earnings of jeepney drivers and operators, leaving them with only around P200-P300 after long hours on the road.
“Mao na gikasa ang dakong istrayk dinhi sa Davao Region, isip pagsupak sa dakong pagsirit sa maong presyong petrolyo… Doble triple ang pagsaka sa presyo sa lana, ug dili siya makatao, kay dose [ka] oras sila nagtatrabaho karon, pero mas lumubog pa din ang ilahang kita… sauna muabot sa P1000-P1200, pero karon kay naa nalang sa P100-P300 [ang] mauli sa pamilya.”
Affirming the reported income drop, Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) Driver Archie* compared pre-surge half-day earnings of around P1,000 to today’s much lower take-home income of under P1,000.
“Estimate jud namo sa half day namo dati, maka-income jud mi og tag-one thousand… Karon wa na, among one thousand maabtan na [og] gabii, usahay mobaba pa jud, usahay di pa jud mi kadala ana.”
Archie* also described the drastic change experienced by all jeepney drivers, who now spend far longer on the road amid rising costs.
“Layo jud kaayo og diperensya sauna og karon. Sauna lipay pa kaayo kay arong orasa (4:00 PM) garahe na mi, naa na mi sa among pamilya, naa na ko sa akong anak, karon hangtod magabin-an nalang ko… Maghalf day lang ka, wala kay madala sa imong pamilya.”
Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 12316 on March 25, granting him the authority to suspend or reduce excise taxes on petroleum products, though he has yet to exercise this authority despite the average one-month crude oil price having exceeded $80 per barrel.
However, multisectoral progressive groups slammed the stopgap measures of the government for the transport sector and consumers who bear the heaviest brunt of the oil price hikes, especially on the planned implementation of the compressed four-day work week.
Tensions between the US-Israel and Iran and threats to global oil supply routes were also pointed out, alongside the Philippines’ deregulated oil industry, which leaves prices at the mercy of private oil monopolies that translate to higher transport fares and more expensive daily necessities.
Demanding lower fuel costs and higher wages, Kadamay Davao Spokesperson Leon Bolcan vowed to sustain the campaign in the coming weeks in line with Labor Day.
“Sa musunod nga mga semana hangtud sa Mayo Uno, padayon ang among pagpanawagan nga i-ubos ang presyo sa palaliton ug usbawan ang suholan.” he asserted.
Temporary aid “not enough”
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office XI started distributing P5,000 Cash Relief Assistance (CRA) to 4,100 “qualified” public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers in selected areas in Davao Region on April 8.
Beneficiaries include 387 from Davao City, 961 from Digos City, 841 from Panabo City, 998 from Tagum City, and 967 from Island Garden City of Samal.
However, according to a Davao Today report, several drivers expressed dismay over the cash assistance distribution under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, after learning their names were missing from the City Transport and Traffic Management Office’s (CTTMO) masterlist.
Confirming the situation, a tricycle driver confirmed his absence from the masterlist, despite having received a text message from the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).
“Lisod kaayo… Parehas karon mahal ang gasolina, mahal tanan, [apil] bugas. Maghulat nalang mi sa ilahang text, kay naa daw mi sa ubang list.”
Aside from the AICS program, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) extended support through its Pantawid Pasa Program, a fuel subsidy program benefiting public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers and operators, modernized jeepneys, Filcabs, taxis, public utility buses, minibuses, modern and traditional vans, transport network vehicle service (TNVS), and school transport services ranging from P1,000 to P10,000 depending on the unit of the vehicle.
Several local initiatives also emerged, such as Ateneo de Davao University’s “AdDU Para sa Drayber,” Matina Community Pantry and Konsyensya Dabaw’s “Kusina sa Katawhan,” and Youth Advocates for Pro-People Transportation (YAPPT) Network and Blue Knights for Human Rights Alliance’s “Community Pantry: Bayanihan Para sa mga Drayber ug Miyembro sa Komunidad sa Davao City.”
YAPPT Spokesperson Marlou Engreso said in a press statement that their community pantry support for the drivers stemmed from genuine solidarity in their struggle.
“Isip komyuter, makaguol paminawon nga ang jeep nga among gidakuan ug ang mga drayber nga nagahatod sa amoa sa eskwelahan ug trabahoan naglisud karun. Maong ang pag suporta namo karun sa mga drayber pamaagi sa community pantry dili lamang naga-gikan sa kaluoy, pero mas labaw nga pakighiusa sa ilahang laban.”
Engreso acknowledged that community pantries are only temporary measures, urging instead for institutional solutions to cushion Filipino consumers, public transport workers, and other affected sectors.
“Gusto namo muabot ang panahon nga dili na ni kinahanglan sa mga drivers tungod kay makabuhi na ang kita sa ilang trabaho… Maong kung kaya sa mga kabatan-unan nga maka-mobilisa og tabang sa mga drayber, unsa na lang kaya ang mabuhat para sa mga draybers kung mulihok ang mas naay dakong resources sama sa gobyerno?”
Editor’s note: Names marked with asterisks are pseudonyms used at the request of the interviewees.