JV Ejercito seeks probe on prices of domestic flights

Senator JV Ejercito has filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the implementation of the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) amid concerns on supposedly high fares for domestic flights. 

In filing Senate Resolution No. 257, Ejercito said that the Senate Committee on Tourism, which he chairs, shall conduct an inquiry on the implementation of the NTDP to ensure that the country’s tourism infrastructure supports domestic travel. 

“Kapag mas mura pa ang pamasahe papuntang Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, o Hong Kong kaysa sa sarili nating mga probinsya, malinaw na may mali sa sistema,” the senator said in a statement. 

(When airfare to Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, or Hong Kong is cheaper than traveling to our own provinces, it is clear that something is wrong with the system.) 

Ejercito noted that high domestic fares have a negative impact on local tourism as well as livelihoods that rely on tourism. 

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) earlier said the government is already enacting measures to lower the prices of plane tickets for local destinations, noting that the price of an airline ticket depends on various factors. 

According to the DOTr and the Civil Aeronautics Board, the first consideration is the size of the plane and its passenger capacity. The larger the plane and the more passengers it can accommodate, the lower will be the price per passenger, as more passengers will generate revenue. 

DOTr and CAB also said that some airports in the country, including those in Catarman, Siargao, Antique, and Busuanga, can only be used by small aircraft due to their short runways.

The NTDP was launched in 2023 with the goal of improving the country’s tourism infrastructure and accessibility.

“Kung gusto nating umunlad ang turismo, kailangan mauna ang maayos na imprastraktura. Hindi rin dapat mas mahal pang maglakbay sa sariling bansa kaysa lumipad sa ibang bansa,” said Ejercito. 

(If we want tourism to flourish, proper infrastructure must come first. It also shouldn't be more expensive to travel within our own country than it is to fly abroad.) —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News