Gov’t eyes cuts on aviation, toll, port fees amid rising fuel prices

The government is considering possible reductions in port fees, aviation charges, and toll discounts to ease the impact of fuel price hikes on affected sectors, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Tuesday.

DOTr Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the measures were being considered under the directive of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to help reduce operating costs as well as lower fares and prices of goods.

“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,” Lopez said.

(Especially for shipping companies, our President and Executive Secretary Recto ordered yesterday to study the charges that can be removed when arriving at our ports.)

However, Lopez noted that shipping companies operate in a deregulated environment, which may limit the government’s direct intervention.

“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,” he said.

(The only problem with our shipping companies is that when it comes to their fares, they are deregulated. So let's see what we can really do to help that will really benefit the passengers and the cargos.)

Lopez also said the government is studying possible reductions in aviation-related fees.

“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.

(It is the same with our aviation sector. Our President wants reduction in our CAAP-operated terminal fees as well as our navigation charges.)

“Kung ito po’y binawasan natin, makakaasa sila na makikita ito at maaapektuhan yung pagbaba ng ating pamasahe sa ating mga pasahero,” he added.

(If we reduce these, they can expect to see and it will affect the reduction in our fares for our passengers.)

Meanwhile, the DOTr chief said discussions with toll operators regarding discounts for certain vehicles are already underway.

“Yes, yung toll discount po, nakakuha na po tayo ng approval sa ating mga toll operators. Nagpapasalamat po tayo, nabigyan tayo ng diskwento,” Lopez said.

(Yes, the toll discount, we have already received approval from our toll operators. We are grateful, we have been given the discount.)

“Ang pinag-uusapan na lang ngayon is the exact amount of the discount and how to operate and implement it,” he added.

(The only thing we are discussing now is the exact amount of the discount and how to operate and implement it.)

The toll discounts would cover provincial buses and trucks transporting essential goods. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News