Garin is asking Filipinos to conserve energy – a “small sacrifice,” as she puts it – even if fuel supply remains stable until the end of April. “If possible, don’t use cars if it’s not necessary,” she said, promoting carpooling and work-from-home setups. Consumption grew at an average annual rate of 3.7 percent between 2014 and 2024, surpassing that of Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea. Asia, which sources most of its energy supplies from the Middle East, has implemented a range of measures to reduce consumption. Pakistan and Bangladesh have canceled classes, while the Maldives and Nepal have started rationing liquefied petroleum gas.

Source: Philippine Star March 21, 2026 16:36 UTC