Tensions in the Middle East continue to rise thousands of kilometers away from the Philippines. Despite the distance, its effects are felt in many places, including Filipino homes where families are concerned about loved ones working abroad, while also facing rising fuel prices, inflation of necessities, and economic shocks.

This crisis is more than just another headline on TV for a lot of Filipinos. Millions of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have lived in the Middle East for a long time. Their sacrifices abroad help support their families back at home through remittances, which help pay for housing, education, and other everyday needs. But as the situation grows more unstable, concern for their safety grows just as quick. 

Behind every money transfer is a story of hours-long work, being away from loved ones, bearing a quiet hope of making life better for those who are waiting back at home.

Families in the Philippines are getting more worried as missile strikes, military buildups, and security threats to their loved ones are no longer far-off events. They are reminders that Filipino workers are trying to thrive and go about their daily lives abroad. For a lot of families in the Philippines, every new piece of news about the ongoing conflict makes them feel anxious, hoping that their loved ones remain safe despite the growing uncertainty.

While many families’ top priority is still the safety of their loved ones far from home, the conflict also impacts the global economy. The world’s oil supply is one of the most obvious examples of this ripple effect, particularly in a small waterway that plays a vital role in the world’s energy trade.

Recent tensions have also disrupted activity in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil routes, where nearly one-fifth of the global supply cargo passes each day. Threats to shipping and attacks on vessels have forced operations to slow down, upsetting the world’s energy markets and driving up oil prices. 

The effects can quickly spread and be felt throughout economies like the Philippines, which is highly dependent on imported fuel sources. If these increases continue, transport groups are likely to push for higher fares, and many businesses may pass on higher fuel costs through more expensive food and electricity over the upcoming weeks. This shows that for nations like ours, the price of daily living can be heavily altered by what originally started as a geopolitical conflict elsewhere.

The government has already tried to counter the crisis by implementing a temporary four-day work week for selected executive offices to save fuel and electricity. While this may sound great for some, many Filipinos do not have an option to skip a full day of work.

Jeepney drivers, nurses, factory workers, and many private businesses still need to be physically present. Their work cannot be compressed into four days, nor can it be transitioned to online meetings.

The harshest part is that these same workers are already hit hardest by increased fuel prices. For many, the four-day work week in the government and offices does not remove the daily burden of commuting and high fuel costs. While the four-day work week may provide temporary relief, it is only for those workers whose roles can support that schedule.

These effects demonstrate how interconnected the modern world has become in many ways. Fuel prices, food costs, and families’ sense of security can all be impacted by a conflict that is taking place thousands of kilometers away.

And while this conflict may continue far from the country’s shores, its consequences will still be felt in the lives of people who had no hand in starting it.