The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will negotiate with airline operators to lower their airfare for Siargao Island as the price of plane tickets there sometimes cost more than international flights.

DOTr Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez said he already reached an "agreement" with an airline operator to slash a one-way plane ticket price from P17,500 to P11,000.

"Hopefully, we can implement it po in the next coming days... Bigyan nyo lng po ako ng unti pang panahon baka makahingi pa tayo ng diskwento (Just give me time to ask for more discount)," Lopez told House lawmakers during the Committee on Appropriations hearing for the agency's 2026 budget.

It was Surigao del Norte 1st district Rep. Francisco Matugas who raised the issue on the high cost of tickets bound for Siargao--a popular surfing destination especially for foreigners.

Last month, the cost of a two-way plane ticket soared to P30,000, leaving many travelers and even government officials questioning the figure.

According to Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla, they already imposed penalties on the concerned airlines and suspended two particular flights with high airfare.

Arcilla also explained why flights bound for Siargao were higher than other destinations.

He said aircrafts being used there were relatively smaller, but their fixed costs-- such as landing expenses--were still the same.

Since small aircrafts can carry fewer passengers, the fixed cost is distributed among only a handful, hence the high airfare.

"Yung pong cost of operating an airline, madidistribute sa dami ng pasahero. Kaya magiging mahal kung paliit ng paliit ang eroplano (The cost of operating an airline is distributed among the number of passengers. So it's gonna be more expensive if the aircraft gets smaller) ," he said.

The runway at Siargao airport is also smaller; thus it cannot accommodate larger aircraft, which can carry more passengers.

Lopez said DOTr is now planning to expand it.