Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 00:56:00 07/08/2008
THE SHARP increase in the prices of oil, food and other basic commodities and services is placing millions of Filipinos near, if not below, the poverty level. That is the bad effect of high prices. But in a stroke of serendipity, high prices are also producing something good: they are forcing people to be thrifty; to lead simple, frugal lives; to recycle and reuse things; and to save and conserve natural resources and reduce pollution.
Middle-class and even rich families are being hit hard by the high prices of gasoline. Many of them are leaving their gas-guzzling cars at home and taking the Metro Rail Transit, Light Rail Transit or buses. Many of them are also selling their big vans and sports utility vehicles which became the "in" thing in the cities only a few years ago. If they're still buying cars, they're choosing the compact, fuel-efficient models.
Formerly congested streets and highways like Edsa are now having smooth traffic flow. The high price of gasoline has not only forced big private vehicles off the road but has reduced air pollution in the metropolis.
Some car owners are switching to motorcycles, scooters and bicycles. In line with this trend, the governments of the cities and towns of Metro Manila should set aside special biking lanes in the main streets to accommodate the growing number of cyclists.
Makati has taken the lead in giving drivers a cheaper alternative to jeepneys and other public utility vehicles that run on expensive gasoline or diesel. Mayor Jejomar Binay himself recently drove one of the first e-jeepneys that ply two routes in the commercial district of the city. In addition, jeepneys are converting to LPG. These developments should give some economic relief to jeepney drivers and their families in the face of the constantly increasing price of diesel.
Makati's e-jeepneys project could be replicated in other cities and towns. The Department of Energy and the Department of Science and Technology could also study ways to widen the use of private electric-powered vehicles.
People are becoming more economical in the use of electricity, cooking gas and water. The use of air-conditioning is decreasing among the middle class. People are now shifting from incandescent bulbs to energy-efficient fluorescent lamps. Water is also becoming an expensive and scarce commodity; families are recycling and reusing tap water. For instance, people taking a bath save the runoff water and use it to flush the toilet or clean the bathroom.
People who find LPG too expensive for daily cooking needs are shifting to wood, charcoal, rice husks or sawdust. Multipurpose cooking utensils, such as those that can steam rice and at the same time cook vegetables or fish, will enjoy a higher demand from cost-conscious housewives.
The spike in the price of rice has prompted many people to adopt wise and economical ways of consuming the precious grain. In the past, when rice was cheap, many people would pile up mounds of the cereal on their plate but consume only perhaps one-half and throw the rest away. It was a very wasteful habit. The practice has changed; people now get only the rice that they can consume and eat the last few grains on their plate. Some have taken the advice of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and are ordering "half rice" at restaurants and fast-food outlets. This will not only conserve the precious supplies of rice but also literally change the profile of Filipinos.
The rising prices of viands such as meat, pork and chicken are also making people return to the basic Filipino meal of rice, vegetables and fish. Besides being cheaper, the traditional rice and fish meal is healthy and low in cholesterol.
The high prices of other commodities are changing the shopping habits of Filipinos. Those belonging to the lower classes, whose income has been effectively reduced by the high inflation rate, are thinking twice before going on a shopping trip. They buy only necessities and no longer engage in impulse buying. And whenever possible, they reuse and recycle things like clothes instead of buying new ones.
High prices are changing the status of millions of Filipinos to "new poor" or "near-poor." Inflation is also drastically changing their lifestyle. They are adapting to the situation by saving and scrimping and recycling and reusing. In this serendipitous process, they are helping conserve natural resources, save the environment, reduce pollution and are adopting the habits of frugal, simple and healthy living.
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