LIST: Bayanihan initiatives amid soaring oil prices

MANILA, Philippines – As fuel prices continue to rise due to the Middle East crisis, collectives and organizations have been banding together to help public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers, farmers, and fisherfolk communities, which are among the most affected.

Transport groups and PUV drivers have been mobilizing in response to oil price hikes, calling for the removal of the excise tax to lower fuel prices. Likewise, farming and fisherfolk communities that rely on fuel for the production and transportation of their produce are now forced to halt or limit their livelihoods and leave produce unshipped and unsold.

Reminiscent of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, community pantries and bayanihan initiatives have started again to aid affected communities across the country.

Here is a running list of initiatives. Bookmark this page for updates.

Metro Manila

• Quezon City – EILER is calling for in-kind donations for jeepney drivers and operators. The organization recently distributed its relief packs on March 31, 2026, and it is aiming to launch another relief mission after Holy Week. Donations can be dropped at Topaz Building, Ground Floor, Kamias Rd., Quezon City.
• Quezon City – Rural Rising Philippines has a community pantry refill initiative, “Vegetables for Drivers,” to support drivers and farmers by supplying ongoing community pantries with vegetables bought from affected local farmers. The initiative has donated 700 kilos of assorted produce from local farmers to the Maginhawa community pantry since March 31.
• Quezon City – Alliance of Concerned Teachers-Philippines launched “Tulong Guro Para sa mga Tsuper,” a community initiative accepting monetary and in-kind donations in solidarity with jeepney drivers. Donations go directly to community pantries organized by the Tulong-Guro Quezon City Public School Teachers Association and ACT NCR Union.
• Manila – Artist Alliance for Peasant Rights and Latag Lokal are holding “Sun of a Beach,” a summer art market and donation drive for farming and fisherfolk communities, on April 13 to 14 at the Heyday Cafe, España, Manila. In-person donations made during the event will be given small gifts in return.
• Manila – One Race for Filipino Services will be conducting a medical mission on April 4 for 110 jeepney drivers. The organization also welcomes in-kind and monetary donations for relief distribution. 
• Metro Manila – PARA! Kay Manong, an organization previously centered on helping jeepney and tricycle drivers during the pandemic, is back to provide support to jeepney drivers affected by the rise in oil prices. The initiative is accepting cash and in-kind donations until April 3 and has already collected over 46,000 pesos as of March 30.

Luzon

• Benguet – Local citizens in La Trinidad organized a small community food pantry for PUV and taxi drivers, and set up a waiting shed for the distribution of grocery and vegetable packs on April 1. The group welcomes cash and in-kind donations such as rice, canned goods, water, and other basic necessities.
• La Union – Kabataan ng La Union Para sa Pagbabago will launch Project AYAT, a community pantry to support drivers, farmers, and fisherfolk communities. In-kind donations can be dropped off at Grotto Road, Agoo, La Union, until April 10, while monetary donations for the purchase of fruits and vegetables from local farmers can be sent online to their official accounts.
• Los Baños, Laguna – Drive for Elbi Drivers welcomes cash donations to purchase food and relief packs for jeepney drivers based in Laguna. Their donations are ongoing, and as of March 30, they have managed to garner P20,000. 
• Los Baños, Laguna – Society of Applied Mathematics of UPLB launches “Enable 2026: Para sa mga Drayber,” aiming to provide support and amplify the voices of the El Danda-Forestry-Junction Operators Drivers Association Inc. The organization accepts monetary and in-kind donations, which drivers will receive on April 25 at the Student Union Building Amphitheater, UPLB.
• Cainta, Rizal – Bayanihan Youth Movement will launch a Bayanihan Community Pantry for affected jeepney and tricycle drivers in Cainta. The organization urges the public to donate monetary and in-kind donations, particularly vegetables, fruits, and rice, among others.
• San Mateo, Rizal – The San Mateo Young People’s Council is organizing a community pantry starting April 1, following consultations with jeepney drivers at the Philcoa-Maly Terminal. 

Visayas

• Cebu – Paglaum Cebu is accepting monetary and in-kind donations for 330 jeepney drivers of Piston Cebu and hopes to extend its reach to other, more vulnerable drivers outside of the organization.
• Iloilo – Aksyon Radyo Iloilo organized an “Ilonggo Community Mobile Pantry for Drivers.” The initiative has been going around transport terminals in Iloilo, carrying assorted produce, rice, eggs, canned goods, and vitamins for PUV drivers. The mobile pantry asks for both in-kind and monetary donations to continue its initiative.
• Bacolod – IF Green Technologies, in partnership with the provincial government, is leading the distribution of 400 liters of free biofuel to ease the burden on small-scale fisherfolk through its expanded “Collect, Recycle and Renew” program. The project promotes the conversion of cooking oil sourced from households, hotels, and the city’s famous lechon chicken stalls into affordable biodiesel.

Mindanao

• Davao City – Art Relief Mobile Kitchen and Matina Community Pantry are organizing a series of cookouts for PUV drivers along different routes throughout Davao City for the whole month of April.

– with reports from Gabie Torre, Kean Bagaipo, Pauleen Grace dela Cruz, Jerikka Nicole Acelo/Rappler.com