MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government has begun implementing measures to help ease the burden on airline passengers following a sharp increase in global jet fuel prices triggered by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
According to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), it is working with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) to mitigate the potential impact of rising fuel costs on airfares.
Government monitoring showed that the price of jet fuel nearly doubled in recent weeks, climbing from $90.87 per barrel on Feb. 19 to $188.20 per barrel on March 9.
In response, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez directed CAAP to reduce Passenger Service Charges (PSC) and airport navigation charges in all airports operated by the aviation authority. The move is intended to help airlines lower operating costs amid the surge in fuel prices.
The CAB has also shortened the evaluation and implementation period for adjustments in fuel surcharges. The process, which previously took about a month, has been reduced to 15 days to allow faster reflection of any decline in jet fuel prices in airline fares.
The government said it continued to monitor developments in the global fuel market and was coordinating with stakeholders in the aviation industry to ensure that air travel remained safe, reliable, and affordable for the public.
