Ferry operators raise fares as fuel prices spike over Middle East tensions

MANILA, March 9 ------ Student Earl Meran was shocked when he purchased a FastCat ferry ticket for his trip home to Oriental Mindoro after discovering that the fare had risen to ₱650, compared to ₱542 just last week when he traveled to Batangas.

Meran had originally planned to buy an air-conditioned accommodation ticket, but its price had already climbed to ₱715. He was also unable to avail of the student discount after forgetting his school ID. “Mahirap sa akin, bilang isang estudyante wala naman po ako sariling income syempre nagulat ako, wala naman po ako choice kungdi bayaran,” Meran said.

FastCat, owned by Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corporation, is among the first shipping lines to raise ferry fares due to the surge in fuel prices triggered by the conflict in the Middle East. Starlite Ferries also announced that starting March 10, it will increase passenger fares and cargo rates by 25 percent. Meanwhile, Montenegro Shipping Lines will implement a 10 to 25 percent fare increase across all its routes nationwide beginning March 23.

The fare hikes add to the expenses of passengers planning to travel back to their provinces during the upcoming Holy Week, especially after the Batangas Port terminal fee was doubled in January from ₱30 to ₱60. The Batangas–Calapan route of Montenegro Shipping Lines will increase to ₱600, up from the previous ₱528. “Mahihirapan na ho umuwi ang mga tao ngayon lalo na holy week,” said passenger Roldan Natal. “Dati po noon pandemic nagtaas na sila tapos hindi na pandemic hindi naman sila nagbaba ng pamasahe tapos ngayon mataas na ulit,” he added. Rates for rolling cargoes, including vehicles, will also increase. “Ang mga anak ko ay gustong tumawid ay hindi muna raw matawid,” said Charity Andal, a resident of Calapan City.

According to Christopher Pastrana, chairman of the Philippine Interisland Shipping Association (PISA), member companies are planning to raise fares by 20 to 30 percent because they can no longer sustain the high fuel prices from their suppliers. He said fuel prices have surged significantly since tensions erupted in the Middle East.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com