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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider Trade & Industry devider DOTr chief eyes cheaper airfares amid holiday season

DOTr chief eyes cheaper airfares amid holiday season

Published Sep 4, 2025 10:06 am
The new leadership of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will be pushing airlines to lower their airfares ahead of the holiday season as part of a commitment to prioritize commuter-first policies.
DOTr Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez said he is scheduled to meet with airlines next week to explore options to bring down the prices of plane tickets before the observance of Undas in late October.
Lopez said addressing high airfares was among the directives given to him by former transportation secretary Vince Dizon, who now leads the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Dizon met with local carriers last week to probe the reasons behind the spike in fares and seek ways to curb it.
The former transportation chief was compelled to intervene after round-trip tickets to popular tourist destinations like Siargao soared to over ₱30,000.
The high fares made traveling to Siargao more expensive than international flights to Hong Kong, Thailand, and Japan.
“They had a meeting last week. I’m going to meet them also this coming week so we can see where they left off in their discussion,” said Lopez.
“But definitely, the objective and the mission is to have [airfares] lowered,“ he added.
In Siargao’s case, aviation experts blamed the limitations of its airport for driving up prices.
The runway, in particular, can only accommodate small turboprop jets carrying around 80 passengers. Larger planes can spread costs across more passengers, resulting in lower fares.
Sayak Airport in Siargao is being eyed by a private consortium, alongside airports in Davao and Albay, as part of a single public-private partnership (PPP) agreement for their modernization.
A proposal has also been put forward to build an international gateway near the airport, which is envisioned to serve bigger aircraft to meet international demand.
Lopez said lowering airfares forms part of his commitment to build upon his predecessor’s gains in advancing the welfare of commuters as the primary focus of the DOTr.
Lopez, who served as undersecretary for administration, finance, and procurement under Dizon, said he will adopt the former secretary’s action-oriented approach to improve the commuting experience.
He said he will oversee the fast-tracking of the administration’s big-ticket transportation projects to shorten commuting time for Filipinos, giving them more time to spend with their families.
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