President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday backed a 15-day fuel surcharge review cycle and cuts in airport charges to help ease rising airfares amid volatile jet fuel prices due to the Middle East conflict.
In a media release on Thursday, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Mr. Marcos met with members of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) to discuss strategies to lessen the impact of oil price swings on the air transport sector.
“The meeting aimed to identify ways to manage and implement measures to mitigate the immediate impact of rising fuel costs, including those affecting air transport, and to ensure affordability, operational stability, and minimal disruption to mobility and supply chains,” the statement read.
The meeting also covered the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), adopted a 15-day airfare price monitoring and implementation cycle for the imposition of passenger and cargo fuel surcharges on domestic and international flights.
Moreover, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) approved reducing passenger service and airport navigation charges at government-operated airports.
“This will provide temporary cushioning for airlines and passengers as a result of a gradual increase in airfare prices and granting of temporary relief to businesses,” it added.
These measures follow the president’s directive on Wednesday, March 18, to suspend fare hikes for public transportation amid tensions in the Middle East, emphasizing the importance of easing the burden on commuters.
He instructed the DOTr to delay fare increases temporarily, assuring transportation workers that the government would expedite and enhance support to alleviate their challenges.
Furthermore, President Marcos also underscored the administration’s commitment to work closely with the aviation sector in pursuing other measures to secure a steady supply of oil and fuel amidst global tightening and to cushion the impact of price increases to the traveling public.
Earlier this week, the CAB announced an update to the fuel surcharge levels for both domestic and international flights due to the oil price shock, noting that the cargo fuel surcharge will be set at Level 8 for flights from April 1 to 15, 2026, increasing from the current Level 4.
Additionally, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) also announced an average fare increase of 19 percent across all modes of land transportation.
