Hundreds of transport workers in the Philippines' capital Manila have gone on strike over rising fuel costs. Diesel and petrol prices have more than doubled since the Iran war broke out on 28 February - with the Philippines now in a state of national energy emergency. One 62-year-old driver in Manila told the BBC the situation was getting increasingly desperate, saying he had no food to support his five children and had not received any cash aid from the government. As the two-day strike started on Thursday, a ship carrying more than 700,000 barrels of Russian crude oil arrived in the country, raised amidst the crises. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s spokesperson confirmed the arrival of crude shipment from Sierra Leone-flagged vessels earlier that week. Marcos had promised to explore new oil sources, citing reliance on supplies that pass through the Strait of Hormuz for 98% of the country's fuel needs. Transport coalitions leading the strike have laid out demands including the scrapping of fuel taxes, rolling back oil prices, abandoning deregulation, and introducing state controls while pushing for fare increases and higher wages. Protesters gathered across Manila, mainly comprising jeepney drivers, who are known for offering low fares. Many drivers reported not receiving the supposed government cash aid - with stories like that of 62-year-old Guillermo Japole, who could not find his name among assistance recipients after waiting hours in line. As the effects of the strike ripple through a congested city where commuters often face delays, many echoed sentiments like those of 58-year-old Ronnie Rillosa, expressing feelings of being choked and hopeless amidst the crisis. The government has implemented measures to address the situation, but discontent remains high, especially among labor groups who criticize the emergency declaration for being insufficient to resolve the oil crisis.