Filipino jeepney drivers struggle as oil prices surge: ‘what we earn goes to diesel’

2026.03.19 11:50 A protester holds a slogan that reads “scrap the oil deregulation law” as jeepney drivers hold a transport strike in Quezon City on Thursday. Photo: AP The ripple effects of the war in ⁠the Middle East are hitting home hard for ⁠Filipino jeepney driver Toni Prado, whose daily earnings have been gutted by soaring fuel prices. He was one of thousands of jeepney drivers who took to the streets across the country on Thursday to protest a more than doubling ‌of local diesel prices after global oil prices surged because of the US-Israel war on Iran. “We are losing our income. What we earn just goes to paying for diesel,” said Prado. “Before I could earn at least 1,000 pesos (US$17) for three trips, now I only take home 200 pesos,” said the father of four. “How can I support my children? How can I send my daughter to school? How ‌do I pay for electricity, water and food?” A protester holds a slogan that reads “Oil cartel, greedy for profit” as jeepney drivers strike on the streets of Quezon City on Thursday. Photo: AP The Philippines relies heavily on Middle Eastern oil, and the surge in fuel prices is threatening to stoke inflation in the consumption-driven economy. Like many of its Southeast Asian neighbours, Manila has taken steps such as shortening the work week and providing fuel subsidies to counter the impact of rising costs. This week, congress granted the president emergency powers to suspend or reduce fuel taxes. Mody Floranda, who heads the transport group leading the national strike, said those measures were not enough and called for the repeal of a law that stripped the government of its authority to control fuel prices. Tricycle drivers wait to receive a 5,000-peso government subsidy distributed at a public park in Quezon City on Tuesday. Photo: EPA Drivers said the pain of surging diesel prices was compounded by the suspension of a fare hike ⁠that could have provided some relief. Jeepneys, which were originally created from abandoned US mili

原文链接: 南华早报