Strait of Hormuz Disrupted, Asian Countries Face Energy Crisis
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MANILA – The closure of the Strait of Hormuz following the United States (US) and Israeli attacks on Iran in late February has caused shockwaves around the world. Oil prices have surged and stock markets have been volatile as the world awaits when Iran will allow the main waterway to reopen.
Currently, only a handful of ships manage to pass through the strait each day. Meanwhile, attacks on energy infrastructure in the region are pushing prices even higher. As a result, no region is feeling the impact more than Asia. Nearly 90% of the oil and gas passing through the strait is headed to Asian countries.
The pressure is now beginning to be felt. Governments in several countries have ordered employees to work from home, reduced weekly working hours, declared national holidays, and even closed universities early to conserve energy supplies.
The war may be thousands of kilometres away, but people across Asia are feeling the real impact in their daily lives.
Philippines
On Tuesday (24/3/2026), the Philippines declared a national emergency related to the conflict and the “threat to the availability and stability of the country’s energy supply”.
The impact of the war, more than 7,000 km away, is deeply felt, especially by jeepney drivers, the iconic public transport of the Philippines. This is experienced by one jeepney driver, Carlos Bragal Jr, who says his daily income has dropped from 1,000–1,200 pesos (about Rp 280,000–Rp 360,000 per day) for a 12-hour shift to just 200–500 pesos (Rp 56,000 – Rp 150,000).
Drivers like him were already facing various pressures, including excise taxes and tariff policies. However, the latest surge in fuel prices has left some with no income at all.
“I put my daughters through school with this job. One has just graduated and the other is about to. We used to live comfortably, but now we don’t know what will happen in the coming weeks,” said Carlos, quoted from the BBC News website.
He added that if this situation continues, the impact on his family will be very severe.
Not only drivers, but fishermen and farmers are also affected by the high fuel costs. Some vegetable farmers in Bulacan have even been forced to halt production. The government has provided cash assistance, but it is deemed insufficient.
“The government’s fuel subsidy is only enough for two days. Then what after that?” he said. “The situation now is worse than during the pandemic.”
Thailand
In nearly two decades as a news presenter, Sirima Songklin has always appeared in a suit. But earlier this month, she and her colleagues at Thai PBS public broadcaster ditched their suits during live broadcasts as a symbol of an energy-saving appeal.
“Taking off the suit isn’t the main solution, but we want to show that we’re not ignoring the situation. We’re setting an example,” said Sirima.
The Thai government has also urged the public to set air conditioner temperatures to 26–27 degrees Celsius and implemented work-from-home policies in government agencies.
Nevertheless, authorities have emphasised that energy availability is still sufficient for the foreseeable short term.