Fuel Costs Soar, Crushing Farmers as Asean Turns 60

ILOILO, Philippines – Dan Rae Hugo has never heard of the Asean Petroleum Security Agreement. He only knows that his diesel costs have doubled, his profit margins are gone, and the rice on his neighbors’ tables now costs 20 percent more than before the Iran war. The 43-year-old has farmed the fields of Iloilo for 18 years. He says he has never worked harder for less. “It’s all the inputs: the diesel, the labour for operating the machines, the transportation when we harvest … It’s the …” his voice trails off. Hugo’s story highlights a growing gap between regional policy and daily reality as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) marks its 60th anniversary. The bloc was built on promises of peace and shared prosperity. Yet for many small farmers, those promises feel distant as fuel and food prices climb. Analysts describe the current situation as “polite paralysis”—a system where member states agree on goals but struggle to enforce them. The Petroleum Security Agreement, designed to stabilize energy supplies, remains unknown to those who need it most. For Hugo, the anniversary means little. He is focused on the harvest, hoping next season will be better.