Transport group Manibela and various groups took to the streets in Quezon City on September 28, 2026 to stage a protest, pressing urgent demands against soaring fuel costs that have severely affected their daily earnings. Bea Cuadra, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — Members of transport group MANIBELA received sacks of rice from the government’s “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” program.
First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos led the rice distribution at the Land Transportation Office compound in Quezon City on Tuesday, September 29.
According to LTO chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao, he sought the assistance of the first lady for the transport sector after several groups launched another transport strike recently.
In her speech, Araneta-Marcos thanked jeepney drivers for their service in transporting passengers amid series of oil price hikes.
“To all of you that are here today, nandito kami para magpasalamat sa inyong lahat, alam namin na hindi madali ang buhay ninyo (We are here to thank all of you, we know life is hard for you)… you go to work everyday, you make sure that commodities arrive where they’re supposed to be…konting bagay lang ito pero galing sa puso namin (This is a little assistance but it is from our hearts),” Araneta-Marcos told members of MANIBELA.
MANIBELA chairman Mar Valbuena, who led a transport strike on Monday, September 28, was also present during the rice distribution together with hundreds of its members.
LTFRB warns vs. prolonged halt in operations amid transport strikes
Valbuena said dialogues are expected to happen in the following days to iron out the problems of the transport sector.
With this development, he said, MANIBELA will no longer push for another day of transport strike.
“Sabi niya, huwag na tayong mag-strike, tutulungan namin kayo…dahil nga yung petrolyo ay hirap talaga silang kontrolin dahil nasa pribadong korporasyon ito. Sa ngayon, wala na kaming plano pa na magtigil-pasada, dahil may dayalogo na na magaganap,” Valbuena told reporters.
(She said 'don't strike anymore, we will help you'... the government is really struggling because prices are in the private corporations' hands. For now, we have no more plans to hold a transport strike since there will be a dialogue.)
According to Valbuena, they are still pushing for a P1 fare hike petition and hoping for the suspension of excise tax in petroleum products.
“Panawagan natin ay ma-rollback ang presyo ng produktong petrolyo (Our call is for a rollback of the prices of petroleum products),” said Valbuena.
LTFRB: Transport groups can still seek higher jeepney fare as petitions remain pending
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