MARCH 23, 2026 — Fuel subsidies for transport workers will roll out nationwide on April 6, with jeepney drivers outside Metro Manila set to receive up to ₱10,000 in aid. Nearly 100,000 tricycle drivers have already benefited, but protests and transport strikes show that the relief may not be enough to calm the sector’s growing frustration.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced that the nationwide rollout of fuel subsidies for transport workers begins April 6, following the initial release to tricycle drivers last March 20. The package includes ₱5,000 cash aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and fuel subsidies of ₱5,000 for traditional jeepneys or ₱10,000 for modern jeepneys.

Marcos assured drivers, “Naiintindihan natin ang sigaw ng mga nagpoprotesta na kababayan natin … pero gusto kong ulitin sa inyo, hindi kayo maiiwanan; hindi kayo pababayaan ng pamahalaan.” 

(We understand the cries of our protesting countrymen … but I want to repeat to you, you will not be left behind; the government will not abandon you.”)

Oil, fertilizer, and rice

The subsidies are part of a broader government response to soaring fuel prices triggered by the Middle East conflict. Marcos said talks are ongoing with countries like India, China, Japan, Thailand, Brunei, and South Korea to secure oil supply. He also highlighted efforts to address rising fertilizer costs, noting that negotiations with fertilizer-producing nations are underway.

On food security, the President pointed to the ₱20-per-kilo rice program now active in 177 LGUs, insisting supply remains stable. 

Meanwhile, 23 new power projects are expected to add 900 megawatts to the grid within 60 days, with Malampaya gas tapped to boost electricity.

The tension on the ground

Despite these promises, transport groups remain restless. The Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (ACTO) and cooperatives in Iloilo have staged transport holidays, arguing that subsidies are too little against runaway fuel prices.

We must admit, ₱5,000 or even ₱10,000 sounds big on paper, but when diesel prices spike weekly, that money evaporates fast. For jeepney drivers who shoulder daily expenses, the aid feels more like a temporary “solution” than a cure. And while Marcos assures “hindi kayo maiiwanan,” the lived reality of commuters stranded during transport strikes tells another story.

This is about whether the government can keep public transport afloat without passing the burden onto commuters. Every fare hike, every transport holiday, every spike in fuel prices hits the masa hardest. The subsidies may ease the pain for now, but the looming question is sustainability.

Will these short-term subsidies truly shield Filipino commuters and drivers from the long grind of rising fuel costs, or are we really just buying time?

(Image: Philippine News Agency)