While world leaders use wars as geopolitical leverage, the most vulnerable among us are losing their livelihoods. Like many of the nation’s problems, the energy crisis has been involved in corruption and political agendas. Today, proposals to revive it range from USD 1 billion to USD 4 billion—an additional burden that underscores the long-term cost of deferred decisions. Oil hikes have slashed our jeepney drivers’ daily earnings by more than half, leaving them with only P200 to P300. Addressing the crisis demands more than short-term relief; it requires a fundamental shift in how the state anticipates and responds to disruption.