The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is in talks with Philippine Airlines (PAL) to lower airfares to Siargao, a popular surfing destination, to encourage more local and international tourists to visit the island.
The move to reduce fares follows the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to attract more tourists to the area.
Acting DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez said in a Facebook post he hopes to finalize an agreement with PAL to reduce the current one-way fare of P17,500 to P11,000.
“For Siargao, there’s already an agreement with PAL — which we hope to implement in the coming days — to lower the airfare from P17,500 to P11,000,” Lopez said during a hearing of the House Committee on Appropriations on the DOTr’s budget.
Lopez requested more time to continue dialogue with PAL to further lower the P11,000 fare, making it more affordable for tourists and Filipinos.
Meanwhile, the DOTr and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) are studying plans to extend the Siargao Airport runway to accommodate larger aircraft, which would allow for more passengers and help lower ticket prices.
