Cebu Transport Strike Disrupts Commutes Amid Fuel Price Protests
Members of the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston), alongside activists in Cebu, continued their road protest along Colon Street in Cebu City on March 27, 2026. This action was part of a nationwide transport strike condemning the relentless surge in fuel prices, which is severely impacting the livelihoods of drivers of traditional and modern jeepneys.
Conflicting Reports on Strike Impact
Thousands of commuters were stranded as many drivers intended to halt operations on the second day of the transport strike in Cebu due to the fuel price hike. However, Piston-Cebu's claim of significant travel paralysis was contested by Kent Francesco Jongoy, legal officer of the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO). He stated that the strike had no substantial effect on vehicle numbers at major intersections.
According to Piston Cebu's Facebook page, route disruptions reached 60 to 70 percent on March 27, 2026. The strike involved both modern public utility vehicles (MPUVs) and traditional jeepneys. The protest ran from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., affecting routes such as Guadalupe (06B, 06H, 06A, 06F, 06G), Parkmall–Urgello (01K), Tintay–Colon, Pit-os–Carbon, Talamban–Mandaue, and Mabolo (03A, 03B, 03L).
Official Monitoring and Commuter Experiences
Contrary to Piston's assertions, Jongoy explained that based on CCTO monitoring from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., they observed no major changes in PUV numbers compared to non-strike days. In Mandaue City, Hyll Retuya, chief of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team), noted that commuters were largely unaffected due to the city's free ride program and deployed personnel assisting passengers.
Piston Cebu President Greg Perez emphasized that many drivers are earning minimal or no take-home pay because of high fuel costs. "Many have joined, not just Piston. They simply cannot cope with their earnings," Perez stated. He revealed that daily fuel expenses have risen from P2,000 to nearly P3,000, while fares remain unchanged. Drivers must also pay boundaries to operators, leaving little net income even after 16 hours on the road.
Commuter Struggles and Demands
One commuter, Ken Abellon, 25, reported waiting nearly an hour in Lapu-Lapu City just to board a vehicle. His usual 1 hour and 20-minute commute extended to about 2 hours. "We cannot blame anyone, but both sides are affected," Abellon said, adding that his work time was wasted waiting.
Piston Cebu criticized the government's P5,000 fuel subsidy as outdated relative to current fuel prices. They called for the removal of excise tax and VAT on fuel, increased wages, fare adjustments, and the repeal of Republic Act 8479 (Oil Deregulation Law). Perez warned that without solutions, more drivers may be forced to stop passenger services.
