OPINION | BY ROB RANCES
While the Pinklawans rehearse morality…
The Makabayan bloc performs rage…
The clergy bless articles of impeachment rumored to be bought with P150M per signature…
And the elites rebrand power grabs as “accountability”…
While LBM—Liza, Bongbong, Martin—scramble to stay politically relevant…
While Congress turns into a teleserye stage…
A far more devastating crisis is quietly closing in on our nation.
And when it hits, no Mass, no Senate speech, no PR stunt will stop it.
I. YOU’RE WATCHING THE WRONG WAR
The world is staring at missiles in the Middle East.
But the war that will hit us first is economic—and we are utterly unprepared.
Why? The Philippines is 100% dependent on imported oil. 90% of that comes from a region on the brink of war.
And yet:
- We have no strategic fuel reserves.
- We see no energy contingency plan.
- Most local firms hold only 3–7 days of fuel supply.
When the oil stops flowing, we don’t have a week before paralysis begins.
We’re not just exposed. We’re standing on a minefield in blindfolds.
II. FUEL IS JUST THE FUSE. THE BOMB IS LEADERSHIP FAILURE
Let’s be honest:
RA 8479—the Oil Deregulation Law—didn’t just deregulate. It disarmed.
It gave oil giants the power to set prices at will, while the government gave up the tools to protect the poor during global fuel shocks.
The Department of Energy can’t control pump prices, can’t force private companies to stock reserves, and can’t cushion drivers and commuters when oil prices surge.
The result? A free-for-all for corporations. And a ticking time bomb for Filipino consumers.
III. THE ECONOMIC WARNING LIGHTS ARE BLINKING RED
- Foreign Direct Investments down 27.8% (Q1 2025)
- Balance of payments deficit: $3 billion
- Peso under pressure
- Global oil inching toward $100/barrel
- Inflation rising again
And what are our leaders doing?
- Holding Masses to sanctify impeachment drama
- Debating pork allocations
- Hosting press conferences instead of crisis briefings
No oil buffer? No price stabilization plan? No national strategy?
This isn’t governance. This is government by distraction.
IV. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE REAL CRISIS HITS?
Here’s a foresight of the coming chaos:
- Fuel jumps P10–P20 per liter
- Rice hits P80/kilo
- Electricity surges
- Transport fares spike
- OFWs in Middle East lose jobs
- BSP raises rates → fewer loans, fewer jobs
And suddenly, the impeachment won’t matter.
Because you can’t eat slogans.
V. THE FIVE MOVES THEY SHOULD’VE MADE YESTERDAY
- Create a strategic petroleum reserve – Start with 30 days. Scale up.
- Enforce inventory laws – Penalize violators. No more 3-day margins.
- Diversify oil sources – Don’t bet it all on the Gulf.
- Legislate crisis price buffers – Protect the vulnerable.
- Depoliticize energy leadership – Appoint minds, not minions.
VI. LET’S SEE WHO’S STILL PERFORMING WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT
When the pump dries up…
When farmers can’t afford fertilizer…
When families can’t cook dinner…
Will the Senate still perform?
Will the clergy still bless?
Will the Makabayan bloc still chant?
Will LBM still smile for the cameras?
Because when survival becomes the story—only competence counts.
And no teleserye survives blackouts.
👊POWER PUNCH
This isn’t about Duterte. Or Sara. Or the ICC.
This is about a state too fixated on optics to prepare for the obvious.
The perfect storm is already forming:
→ A global oil crisis
→ An economic spiral
→ And a leadership vacuum
We didn’t fall because of war.
We collapsed because no one was steering the ship.
🇵🇭 Wake up, Pilipinas.
Demand plans—not pious staging.
Demand stockpiles—not speeches.
Demand leaders—not actors.
Because when the barrels stop…
It’s not justice that we’ll be begging for.
It’s fuel. And food. And foresight.
And by then, the curtain will have already fallen.
••••
OPINION | BY ROB RANCES
Disclaimer: This opinion and foresight piece is based on publicly available economic data, legislative history, and current geopolitical developments. It reflects the author’s analysis and opinion on the state of national preparedness and governance. All figures cited are sourced from official releases (e.g., BSP, DOE) or widely reported by media. No accusation is made against any individual or institution without basis; any critique is directed at systemic governance patterns and not intended to malign personal reputations.
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