The Philippines (an archipelago nation in Southeast Asia heavily reliant on Middle Eastern oil imports) has declared a state of national energy emergency as the US-Israel conflict with Iran drives domestic fuel prices to record highs, squeezing industries from transport and agriculture to trade and daily consumers. The government is scrambling to cushion the blow, offering a 20% fare discount on public utility vehicles and securing assurances from China that refined fuel exports to the Philippines will continue uninterrupted. The crisis also threatens the welfare of over two million Filipinos working in the Middle East, with more than 3,000 already repatriated but facing an uncertain economic future at home.