Energy-Saving for All—Except the Military?  

In recent weeks, the government has repeatedly called for energy conservation. From the highest officials down to ordinary citizens, the appeal has been consistent: cut back on fuel consumption, reduce reliance on petroleum products, and make sacrifices for the greater good. The message is clear—everyone must contribute, everyone must pitch in.  

But it seems one sector is exempt. While ordinary Filipinos are urged to reduce travel, switch off lights, and save on fares, the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have announced the start of large-scale military exercises. Thousands of soldiers from the Philippines, the United States, Australia, and Japan will participate, joined by foreign observers.  

The costs are staggering. The Philippine Air Force will deploy its air assets, side by side with the US Air Force’s advanced Jet Raptor. The Philippine Army will roll out tanks and artillery, while the Philippine Navy will showcase its naval assets—all powered by special fuel that is even more expensive than crude, now priced at P150 per liter. 

For wealthy nations, such expenses may be “nothing.” But for the Philippines, they are no joke. They are excessive, even insensitive to the plight of struggling Filipinos already burdened by soaring prices due to the global oil crisis. The contradiction is glaring: the government calls for belt-tightening and shared sacrifice, yet one sector consumes fuel extravagantly without restraint. 

Couldn’t these military drills—held annually anyway—be postponed until the nation weathers the crisis triggered by the US-Israel strikes against Iran? 

The timing alone raises questions about priorities. How much is the Philippine government actually spending to join such activities? Wouldn’t it be more beneficial if these funds were redirected to fare subsidies, farmer support or food programs for ordinary Filipinos?  

The irony is hard to ignore. While jeepney drivers cut trips to save fuel, while households dim lights to lower bills, the defense establishment burns through millions of pesos worth of specialized fuel. The disparity undermines the credibility of the government’s conservation campaign.  

If the call for energy-saving is genuine, it must apply to all—civilian and soldier alike. The fuel spared from military exercises could go a long way in filling the nation’s plate with rice, easing hunger, and supporting livelihoods. Conservation cannot be selective. Shared sacrifice must be universal, or else the message collapses under the weight of its own hypocrisy.