The normally congested streets of Manila have turned eerily quiet, with fewer vehicles clogging the roads as fuel prices climb sharply amid the Strait of Hormuz crisis. This shift is exposing deep economic challenges for Filipinos, who are struggling with rising oil costs, dwindling incomes, and a stagnating economy, according to Al Jazeera.

Transport Congestion Turns to Empty Streets

For years. Metro Manila’s transport congestion has been infamous, ranking worst globally in 2024, according to the TomTom traffic index. In 2021. An AltMobility and Friedrich Naumann Foundation study found that commuters spent 188 hours sitting in traffic in a year, translating to half a billion dollars in losses to the economy.

Now, a 26km (16.2 miles) drive from the Manila airport to the Quezon City Hall could be a 45-minute breeze, instead of the typical two hours, according to Google Maps. But this change has nothing to do with the country’s transport experts magically solving the decades-old problem. Rather, it is the result of a surge in fuel prices following the United States and Israel’s joint military operation against Iran, which began almost a month ago.

Since the military operation, fuel prices have surged at a dizzying pace, suddenly emptying the streets of the Philippine capital of many vehicles; this situation echoes the empty streets seen during the COVID-19 lockdown five years ago, when similar restrictions were imposed.

Economic Impact on Filipinos

On a typical Wednesday. The Baclaran Church in Manila is busy with activity; Jasmine flower vendors jostle for position with barbecue sellers and transport barkers, amid a steady flow of congregants. It’s a weekly routine for many Catholic devotees. But on the first day of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s yearlong national energy emergency declaration on March 25, the usual festive chaos outside the Romanesque-style shrine was almost gone, with the honking of public transport vehicles, called jeepneys, muted.

The advent of Holy Week, commemorating Jesus’ suffering and death, one of the holiest holidays for Filipinos, added even more gloom. Outside the church complex, parking attendant Ruben, 27, stood as he waited for more customers. He had been working for more than 12 hours since three in the morning on Wednesday, and barely earned about $6 in tips, less than half his usual collection. That means emptier stomachs for his family, he said.

Emily Ruado, 59, a mother of four children, has the same dilemma. The paper napkin vendor told Al Jazeera that from a daily income equivalent to $10, her take-home money after the oil price hike has shrunk to about $5. “We’re barely surviving,” she said.

Ruben and Emily’s financial quandary reflects an even bigger headache for the Philippines, as worries of a sharp increase in prices of basic goods and sudden loss of employment for thousands of people could quickly lead to a stagnating economy. Just before the Iran war began, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) was predicted to grow at 5 percent. That is becoming more unlikely now.

Strain on Public Transport and Infrastructure

Meanwhile, as fewer buses, jeepneys, and ride-hailing vehicles ply the streets, commuters making use of Manila’s limited railway network have swelled, creating bottlenecks during rush hour at metro stations. This situation exposes the acute insufficiency of the train system, while also reminding the public of the multibillion-dollar infrastructure corruption scandal still roiling the country.

The Philippines’ transport system is under immense pressure as fuel prices continue to rise. The country’s GDP was projected to grow at 5 percent before the Iran war began, but that is becoming more unlikely now. With fuel prices surging and incomes dwindling, the economic outlook for the Philippines is growing increasingly uncertain.

The situation in Manila is a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of global events and local economies. As the Strait of Hormuz crisis continues to unfold, its impact on fuel prices and, consequently, on the daily lives of Filipinos, is becoming more pronounced with each passing day.

With the national energy emergency declaration in effect, the government faces mounting pressure to address the crisis. However, with the country already grappling with infrastructure corruption and a stagnating economy, the path forward remains unclear.