Oil Prices Are Rising Again: Should We Blame the Philippine Government — or Our Lack of Financial Preparation?
Oil price hikes, inflation, government policy, and the uncomfortable truth: preparation determines who suffers and who doesn’t.
Every time fuel prices go up in the Philippines, the reaction is almost always the same.
“Kasalanan ng gobyerno.”
“Wala na bang gagawin ang gobyerno?”
“Puro na lang taas ng presyo.”
For many people, the automatic conclusion is simple.
Blame the government.
But here is a question most people rarely ask.
If another president were sitting in Malacañang today, would global oil prices actually be different?
To be fair, government policy does affect energy, taxes, and the economy. But there is an uncomfortable truth many people ignore.
Even if the government improves policies…
Even if a new president comes in…
Even if your preferred candidate wins the next election…
Oil price hikes will still happen.
Because the bigger issue behind all of this is something that has existed long before any current administration.
Inflation.
Oil Price Hikes Are Not New
Oil prices have been rising and falling for decades, no matter who the president is.
Administrations change. Political narratives change.
But one thing remains constant: the Philippines imports most of its oil, and global markets largely determine the price we pay.
Governments can influence taxes and energy policy, but no Philippine president controls global oil markets.
So when global oil prices move, fuel prices move with them.
That’s simply how the global economy works.
Whether We Like It or Not, Our Economy Still Needs Oil
Some people respond to oil price hikes by saying we should just stop relying on oil.
In reality, it’s not that simple.
Even if individuals reduce their fuel consumption, entire sectors of the economy still depend on oil — heavy equipment used in construction, airplanes, ships transporting goods across islands, and large trucks that transport food and products across the country.
These sectors cannot simply stop using oil overnight.
So while we can adjust our personal lifestyle choices, the economy will still rely on oil for the foreseeable future.
Which is why sudden oil price spikes affect many parts of the economy.
Transportation costs increase.
Logistics costs increase.
And eventually, the price of goods increases.
That is part of inflation.
The Bigger Issue: Inflation
Oil prices don’t just affect gasoline.
They affect the cost of doing business.
When transportation, logistics, and energy become more expensive, businesses eventually pass those costs on to consumers.
That ripple effect contributes to inflation, which simply means prices rising over time.
In practical terms:
The same amount of money buys less than before.
Why Simply Increasing Salaries Does Not Solve Inflation
Whenever prices rise, many labor groups demand wage increases.
The intention is understandable. People want relief.
But economically, the situation is more complicated.
Salaries are also part of a company’s operating costs.
If businesses are forced to increase wages significantly while other costs are already rising — fuel, electricity, logistics — those additional expenses usually end up being passed on to consumers through higher prices.
In other words, wage increases can sometimes contribute to further price increases, creating a cycle where prices rise, wages rise, and prices rise again.
This does not mean salaries should never increase.
But solving inflation requires improving productivity, economic growth, and financial resilience — not simply increasing costs across the system.
Government Still Has a Role
Government policies still matter.
Energy security, infrastructure, public transportation, and economic management all influence long-term stability.
But there are also two issues Filipinos often talk about.
Corruption.
When corruption exists, resources meant for infrastructure, energy security, or economic development can be wasted or misused.
That weakens a country’s ability to handle economic shocks.
Another area governments should push more strongly is financial literacy.
If more people understood budgeting, saving, investing, having their own business, and financial preparation, many families would be more resilient during inflation and economic shocks.
Ideally, personal finance should be taught more seriously in schools and public programs.
But policies take time.
And waiting for the government to solve everything is not a good strategy.
Because while policies are being debated and implemented…
Life continues, and prices continue to rise.
Which Brings Us to the Real Question
If we cannot control global oil markets…
If we cannot control wars…
If we cannot control government decisions…
Then what can we control?
This is where personal responsibility comes in.
For almost two decades, I’ve been teaching people about personal finance, financial preparation, business, and investing.
This was actually before many people knew me for low carb and intermittent fasting.
Personal finance was where I first started calling myself a coach.
And over the years I’ve seen the same pattern again and again.
Economic shocks are normal.
Oil prices rise.
Inflation rises.
Crises happen.
The people who prepared ahead of time suffer less.
And if they prepared very well, sometimes they don’t suffer at all.
Those who didn’t prepare usually suffer the most.
Personal Preparation Makes a Huge Difference
Financial preparation does not eliminate inflation.
But it reduces its impact.
When people have emergency funds, investments, and multiple income sources, economic shocks become inconveniences rather than disasters.
This is something my wife and I practice as a couple.
As investors, we diversify where we place our hard-earned money.
As businesspeople, we build income streams that do not depend on only one source.
As people who believe in preparedness, we build buffers for uncertainty instead of assuming the world will always remain stable.
These are simply ways to reduce vulnerability to economic shocks.
Health Is Also Financial Preparation
Another thing people overlook is how inflation also affects healthcare.
When oil prices rise and inflation spreads across the economy, medical care becomes more expensive.
Hospitals pay more for electricity.
Medical supplies cost more.
Transport and logistics increase.
Eventually, patients pay more.
Now consider common metabolic illnesses.
Hypertension requires lifelong medication.
Diabetes often requires continuous medication, lab tests, and monitoring.
Chronic kidney disease may lead to dialysis.
Dialysis in the Philippines can cost around ₱2,500 to ₱4,000 per session today, typically three times per week.
That can already reach ₱30,000 to ₱50,000 per month.
If we assume a modest 5% annual inflation, that monthly dialysis cost could reach roughly ₱49,000 to ₱81,000 per month in 10 years.
Cancer treatment today can cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of pesos.
With the same 5% inflation assumption, a ₱100,000 treatment today could cost around ₱163,000 in 10 years.
And healthcare costs often rise faster than general inflation.
Which means when inflation happens, people who are already metabolically unhealthy may face even greater financial burdens.
This is one reason why I advocate low carb and intermittent fasting.
Better metabolic health improves quality of life.
But it also reduces the risk of extremely expensive diseases later in life.
Health, in many ways, as I’ve said over and over, is also financial preparation.
Adjust What We Can Personally
While the economy will continue to rely on oil, individuals can still make adjustments.
Plan trips more efficiently.
Avoid unnecessary fuel consumption.
Spend more intentionally.
Small decisions help reduce personal exposure to inflation.
Vote Wisely
Government still matters.
Policy decisions affect energy security, economic stability, and inflation.
Citizens should vote responsibly and choose leaders based on actual competence (not what they would like you to believe via their great PR team) and long-term thinking.
A Simple Reality Check
Many people will continue blaming the government every time prices rise.
Some will demand higher salaries.
Some will complain about inflation.
But the real dividing line during economic shocks is simple.
Prepared people suffer less.
People with savings, investments, businesses, and good health have buffers.
When inflation happens, their lifestyle may adjust — but their lives do not collapse.
On the other hand, people without preparation often feel the full impact.
That is the uncomfortable truth.
Inflation does not affect everyone equally.
Prepared people adjust.
Unprepared people suffer.
The Reality of the World
Oil prices will rise again.
Inflation will happen again.
Economic shocks will happen again.
And when they do, the real question will not be:
“Who is the president?”
The real question will be:
“Were you prepared?”
Uncertainty is part of life.
That is why I approach life as a prepper, investor, and businessman.
Not because I expect disaster every day.
But because preparation makes life more stable even when the world is not.
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