The government is looking at cutting shipping port charges, lowering aviation-related fees, and finalizing toll discounts for select vehicles as part of a broader effort to cushion the effects of rising fuel costs, the Department of Transportation said Tuesday.
DOTr Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the measures stem from a directive issued by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., aimed at bringing down operating costs across transport sectors and ultimately reducing fares and the prices of goods.
Toll operators have already signaled their agreement on discounts, with Lopez confirming that approval has been secured. “Yes, yung toll discount po, nakakuha na po tayo ng approval sa ating mga toll operators. Nagpapasalamat po tayo, nabigyan tayo ng diskwento,” he said, adding that the remaining details involve the exact discount amount and its implementation mechanics. “Ang pinag-uusapan na lang ngayon is the exact amount of the discount and how to operate and implement it.”
On the aviation side, Lopez said the President has directed reductions in fees managed by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. “Ganoon din sa ating aviation sector. Pinapa-reduce na po ng ating Pangulo yung ating mga CAAP-operated na terminal fees pati yung mga navigation charges natin,” he said. He added that any approved reduction would be felt directly by passengers through lower airfares. “Kung ito po’y binawasan natin, makakaasa sila na makikita ito at maaapektuhan yung pagbaba ng ating pamasahe sa ating mga pasahero.”
Shipping presented a more complicated picture. Lopez said Marcos and Executive Secretary Recto had instructed the agency to identify port charges that could be removed, but noted a key constraint. “Lalo sa shipping companies, nag-utos ang ating Pangulo at si Executive Secretary Recto kahapon na aralin yung mga puwedeng tanggalin na mga charges pagdating sa ating mga pantalan,” he said.
Because maritime passenger fares operate under a deregulated framework, the government’s ability to mandate reductions is not straightforward. “Ang kalagayan lang ng ating shipping companies kasi pagdating sa pamasahe nila, deregulated ito. So titingnan natin kung anong maitutulong talaga natin na talagang it will benefit the passengers and the cargos,” Lopez said.
