Fuel Price Surge Empties Manila Streets Amid Middle East Crisis

Manila — Once ranked among the world’s most traffic-congested cities, the streets of the Philippine capital are now unusually quiet as soaring fuel prices force many vehicles off the road.

The sharp drop in traffic follows a spike in global oil prices linked to tensions in the Middle East, particularly after joint military operations by the United States and Israel against Iran in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

For years, Metro Manila has struggled with chronic gridlock. A 2024 traffic index ranked it among the worst globally, while earlier studies showed commuters losing hundreds of hours annually to congestion, costing the economy billions of dollars.

Now, however, journeys that once took up to two hours—such as the 26-kilometre stretch from the airport to Quezon City—can be completed in under an hour. But the relief is not due to improved infrastructure; rather, it reflects the growing inability of residents to afford rising transport costs.

The situation has taken a toll on daily life and livelihoods. Around the popular Baclaran Church, typically bustling with worshippers, vendors, and transport operators, activity has significantly declined.

Local workers say their incomes have been severely affected. A parking attendant who usually earns modest daily tips reported making less than half his normal income, while a roadside vendor said her earnings had dropped by nearly 50 percent following the fuel price hike.

The downturn has raised broader economic concerns. Analysts warn that rising transportation costs could trigger increases in the prices of basic goods, threaten jobs, and slow national economic growth.

In response to the crisis, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared a yearlong national energy emergency, aiming to manage the impact of the fuel shock on the country’s economy.

Meanwhile, with fewer vehicles operating, more commuters are turning to Manila’s already strained railway system. This has led to overcrowding at metro stations, further exposing the limitations of the city’s public transport infrastructure.

The unfolding situation underscores how global geopolitical tensions can rapidly translate into economic hardship at the local level, leaving many residents struggling to cope with rising living costs.

Source: Al Jazeera (adapted for Orbit News 24)