The current energy crisis was brought about by the US waging a war against Iran, resulting in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Since much of the Philippines fuels come from the region and given the country’s dependence on oil from the Middle East, the limited supply led to steep increases in the price of fuels. One reaction to this was people suddenly purchasing hybrid and electric vehicles to replace their fossil fuel-powered vehicles, or as another vehicle in their garages. Sales of hybrid and electric vehicles surged the past weeks. However, this reaction among private vehicle owners only showed the disparity among people who struggled to find ways to commute mainly via public transportation or their only vehicle and those who can afford to own several vehicles.

One colleague joked that if you want to see what electric and hybrid models are available across various vehicle types (e.g., cars, SUVs, vans, etc.), you only need to travel along Katipunan. There you will see all types of hybrid and electric vehicles including the most popular ones to the more recent models. Many are SUVs and then there are the luxury brands somewhat being paraded by those who opt for them instead of the Chinese brands. Should we be happy for them? Maybe. Should we be envious? Maybe not. The standard defense for these purchases usually runs along the lines of the owners spending their hard-earned money. So let’s leave it at that. Let those who can afford to buy new vehicles do so if that’s their way of coping with the crisis. Meanwhile, we should lobby for better public transportation services and active transport facilities so the majority of people who need to travel can do so without having to buy their own vehicles.

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