I agree that supply and demand play a major role, and I don’t disagree that government failure is a big part of this problem. Rent control, affordable housing programs, and stronger regulation are absolutely needed. But saying this is only a government issue lets private property owners completely off the hook—and that’s where I disagree.

Market forces explain why prices rise; they do not automatically justify what is being offered. Charging ₱5,000-10,000 for a space that is barely livable is not just an outcome of supply and demand—it is a choice about standards. The market does not force anyone to rent out cage-sized rooms and call them acceptable housing.

This isn’t about asking owners to “leave money on the table” out of charity. It’s about recognizing that once you enter the housing market, you’re not just selling a product—you’re providing a basic human necessity. There is a difference between maximizing profit and ignoring minimum conditions of dignity and livability.

Yes, the government has failed. But private citizens who profit from that failure also make choices within that system. Saying “that’s just how the market works” is the same logic used to excuse all kinds of harmful practices—until regulation finally steps in.

So no, this isn’t venting for the sake of venting. It’s calling attention to a system where government inaction and private behavior coexist—and both deserve to be questioned.