Amid the surge in oil product prices driven by the conflict in the Middle East.
During the Palace Press Briefing on Wednesday, March 11, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), led by Secretary Giovanni Lopez, laid their mitigation plans amid the jump in oil prices.
TOLL DISCOUNTS FOR CLASS 3 VEHICLES
Together with the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), the transport chief said they have urged tollway operators to offer discounts to Class 3 motor vehicles using expressways
Falling under this category are trucks with 3 or more axles and a height exceeding 7.5 feet—such as heavy-duty trucks, large freight trucks, and container trucks.
He said the DOTr and the TRB are now coordinating with toll operators to implement mitigating measures.
“So, tayo naman sa DOTR saka TRB, makikipag-usap tayo sa mga toll operators natin na pagdating sa mga provincial buses natin, sa mga sinasabi nating mga trucks that are for essential goods, agri-products, magbibigay sila ng diskwento dito sa mga toll fee natin,” he said.
Lopez also thanked the toll operators, who have agreed to it, with buses seen to benefit with the reduction of PHP5 to PHP7.
Current toll rates for Class 3 vehicles passing through the Southern Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and Skyway range from PHP102 to PHP1,716, depending on point of entry and point of exit.
For the Northern Luzon Expressway (NLEX), toll rates for Class 3 vehicles range from PHP254 to PHP2,008, which also depends on the point of entry and exit.
POSSIBLE REDUCTION IN AIRPORT CHARGES
Meanwhile, to cushion the impact of rising fuel costs, the government is also considering reducing certain airport charges to help stabilize airfares ahead of the travel surge this Holy Week, which will fall on the last week of March.
The DOTr acting secretary said the move includes studying possible adjustments to landing and take-off fees imposed by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
That could help ease airfare costs for passengers traveling to the provinces or overseas during the peak travel period.
“Una, may mga pagpupulong kami with the airlines natin. Alam din po namin na talaga maapektuhan sila dito and we’re thankful that they’re still holding on,” said Lopez. “Ganoon pa man sa mga ibang, we have to do some mitigating measures also. Not for the airlines necessarily, but more so dun sa epekto sa mga pamasahe sa airfare na magustong bumiyahe.”
The transport chief said the government is studying whether some airport-related fees can be adjusted to help cushion the impact of higher travel demand on ticket prices.
“So isa sa mga tinitingnan namin sa CAAP, ‘yung ating aviation authority, kung puwede ba namin ibaba ‘yung mga ibang fees. Landing fees, take-off fees, ‘yung mga sa tingin namin na kaya naman namin i-adjust. And that will, I think, that will ripple down doon naman sa airfare. At least may stabilize namin kahit papaano,” he said.
He added, “As to the exact amount, hindi ko po masabi kasi pinapaaral ko pa kung puwede na naming gawin.”
Lopez also said the proposal may be presented for board approval as early as next week once the study on the possible fee adjustments is completed.
