RORO, airport terminal fees to be slashed in April —DOTr

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced on Tuesday a reduction in transport fees for airports and roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ships in response to the ongoing oil crisis. 

In a press conference, Transport Secretary Giovanni Lopez said that there is currently a proposal to bring down RORO terminal fees from P516 to only P1 for class 3 and class 4 vehicles.

The decision was made by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to ease transportation costs for transporting goods.

“For the raw and unprocessed agricultural products tulad ng grains, palay, mais, bigas… Tulad din po ng sinasabi nating gulay, prutas, kasama rin diyan ang fishery products, kasama rin diyan ang livestock and poultry,” he said.

(For the raw and unprocessed agricultural products like grains, wheat, corn, rice… It also applies to vegetables, fruits, and also includes fishery products, as well as livestock and poultry.)

“Ito para matulungan din natin ang ating mga negosyante and of course to stabilize the prices… Kahit papaano, makakatulong tayo sa ating basic and prime commodities,” he added.

(This is also to help our businessmen and of course, to stabilize the prices… We can, at the very least, help with the basic and prime commodities.)

Lopez said that the discount is set to be discussed for approval at a PPA board meeting today.

"Ang effectivity po nito ay not later than April 15 once it's approved by the board today kasi may publication pa po tayo," Lopez said.

(The effectivity will be not later than April 15 once it's approved by the board today because there still needs to be publication.)

It will be effective for 6 months.

Airport fees

Meanwhile, Lopez also announced that airport terminal fees will be reduced up to P200 per passenger.

“Direkta ang sinasabi nating effect nito. For example, kung ang ticket po ninyo ay P2,000 but because of the reduction of the terminal fee, makakaasa po kayo na ang ticket niyo ay papalo na lang ng P1,000,” he shared.

(The effect we are speaking of will be direct. For example, if your ticket is P2,000, because of the reduction of the terminal fee, you can expect it to go down to only P1,000.)

Lopez said that airline companies will also feel the reduction in fees as there will also be discounts in take-off and landing fees.

“Puwedeng umabot hanggang P5,000 per landing and per take-off ang matitipid ng ating airline companies,” he added.

(Our airline companies can save up to P5,000 for every landing and per take-off.)

The reductions will be applicable starting April 1 and will be applicable for 3 months.

Earlier, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) said that an upward surge in charges will be applicable for flights booked from April 1 to 15 as fuel surcharge hikes to Level 8.

The rising prices of goods and transportation fees follow the continued increase of oil prices amid the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

READ: Crude Reality: How Middle East tensions drove up fuel prices in PH gas stations

In a statement last March 11, Iran's military command had warned the world that oil prices may hit $200 per barrel as attacks continue in the Gulf.

However, oil prices are currently seeing a slight rebound as talks are being conducted between US and Iran and a 5-day postponement of attacks on Iran’s power grid was announced by US President Donald Trump. Iran however on Monday denied it had engaged in negotiations with the US.

Meanwhile, the Department of Energy on Tuesday said diesel may go up as high as P134.30/liter, and gasoline at P112.40/liter this week. —KG, GMA Integrated News