The soaring cost of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has cast a shadow over the Philippines’ vibrant street food scene, as the conflict in the Middle East disrupts global energy supplies.
For vendors like Eric Garcia, a 20-year-old serving the traditional beef stew known as pares, the surge in fuel prices has turned a daily necessity into a significant financial burden.
To save a few pesos, Garcia now carefully adjusts the flame under his warming trays to the lowest possible setting.
Fuel costs for his business have nearly doubled since the war led to the partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
For an import-dependent archipelago like the Philippines, which sources 90 per cent of its LPG from abroad, the impact of international instability is felt immediately at the grassroots level.
Garcia recently raised the price of a bowl of pares to 65 pesos (approximately 1.08 US dollars) after fuel expenses slashed his daily earnings by a quarter. An 11-kilogramme tank of fuel, which used to cost 870 pesos, now retails for 1,600 pesos.
The vendor, who starts his day at 3 am to prepare his stew, noted that he now earns only 1,500 pesos daily because the remainder of his revenue is consumed by LPG costs.
Struggle between profit and customer loyalty
While fuel stations often dominate headlines during energy crises, the rising price of LPG is a quiet crisis for Manila’s roadside canteens.
Carlo Manalad, a supervisor at a gas retail store, observed that the current LPG prices are the highest he has seen. He explained that when suppliers increase their rates, retailers must follow suit just to maintain their existing profit margins.
However, street vendors do not always have the luxury of passing costs to consumers.
Ronilo Titom, who operates a canteen catering to call centre workers and jeepney drivers, expressed concern that price hikes would drive his customers to competitors.
Even without raising prices, Titom has noticed a shrinking customer base as more people choose to bring packed lunches to save money.
In a bid to manage costs, some vendors have resorted to letting their food go cold rather than keeping burners running.
This desperate measure comes as the cost of ingredients also continues to rise.
Government data released on Tuesday indicated that food prices in the Philippines increased nearly twice as fast in March compared to the previous month, reflecting the broader impact of war-driven inflation.
Consumers feel the inflationary squeeze
The pressure is equally felt by the customers who frequent these stalls. Students and low-wage workers are increasingly limiting their discretionary spending.
John Mark Abella, a french fry vendor, noted a decline in student customers after he was forced to increase his prices by five pesos to compensate for his own overheads.
For workers like Sam Natividad, a call centre employee, the decision to cut back on outside meals is a matter of survival.
She explained that with rising utility bills at home, there is little left in her budget for meals at roadside canteens. While she finds it understandable that vendors must raise prices, the cumulative effect of inflation makes every peso count.
Similarly, motorbike ride-hailing driver Allan Palong shared that while he understands why a bowl of stew costs more, the increase is difficult to bear alongside his own rising fuel costs.
He called on the government to provide more substantial relief, such as slashing excise taxes on imported fuel, noting that current measures are insufficient for those struggling on the front lines of the economy.
