LPG Crisis: Life Goes On

We have no LPG for almost a week now. Last Saturday I searched for LPG in every retailer store in our area. All of them said “we have no LPG available yet.”

But life must go on.

Our improvised ‘kalan’ is working well, anyway.

I was able to cook our favorite ‘sinigang’ for the weekend. Though, most of the time, it is more convenient to have our dishes grilled.

Last Friday, an old woman from the house next to ours asked for a cup of hot water. They already had run out of gas also. I gladly gave her a cup of hot water feeling proud of our improvised ‘kalan.’

Reports said that the situation may last until March.

The Department of Energy, allegedly, cannot identify the cause of the shortage.

It was also reported that the DOE-NBI Task Force discovered empty LPG cylinders being kept in a warehouse. However, it is not enough to prove that there is hoarding.

I understand that there is no ‘business’ sense to sell LPG now at, let us say, 500.00pesos when you can sell it at 600.00 pesos or more in the next few days or weeks.

Nevertheless, as an end consumer, I can’t help to feel being robbed and betrayed.

The LPG shortage is now a crisis that directly affects our lives and other businesses, especially those in the food industry.

I have proven one thing from the current situation: People create crisis to create wealth. As a result it widen the gap between the mass – who are the end users of a certain product – and the affluent – who, most of the times, control the product.

But life must go on.

I believe LPG supply will go back to normal once its price returns to its former price before the holiday season.

I also believe that the situation will turn the other way around – soon.

For the meantime, we are just enjoying our improvised ‘kalan.’