MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government will launch a 200 million peso ($3.4 million) maritime subsidy program on Monday, May 25, aiming to shield an estimated 10 million sea commuters from fare hikes triggered by Middle East conflicts and global energy disruptions.
The initiative, dubbed the Lakbay Alalay ng Gobyerno (LAYAG) program, will be implemented by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) under a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
By absorbing recent fare increases, the subsidy allows passengers to pay pre-crisis base rates on economy and regular accommodation classes across 11 major domestic routes.
Easing the Burden of Global Energy Shocks
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) allocated 200 million pesos out of a broader 1 billion peso service contracting budget to bankroll the maritime relief.
According to MARINA Administrator Sonia B. Malaluan, the safety net directly responds to the volatile global fuel market, which has faced steep price pressures from ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and wider energy sector vulnerabilities.
"MARINA knows the heavy burden the energy crisis has placed on our countrymen," Malaluan said in a statement. "Through the LAYAG Program, we are ensuring that their travels are not disrupted and that they do not bear the full brunt of these costs."
The subsidy program kicks off strictly for purely passenger vessels, covering 93 ships operated by 33 participating domestic shipping companies.
The initial rollout spans 11 high-traffic and essential regional pathways. In Luzon and Mindoro, the program covers the busy routes connecting Batangas to Puerto Galera and Batangas to Calapan.
In the Visayas region, the covered maritime links include travel between Jordan Wharf in Guimaras and Parola Wharf in Iloilo City, as well as Buenavista Wharf in Guimaras to Parola Wharf in Iloilo City. Commuters traveling between Sta. Rosa on Olango Island and Angasil in Lapu-Lapu City, alongside those moving between Liloan in Santander, Cebu and Sibulan in Negros Oriental, will also benefit from the rolled-back fares.
For Mindanao and the Caraga region, the subsidy blankets voyages between Zamboanga City and Basilan, and from Sta. Cruz on Talicud Island to Poblacion Kaputian in the Island Garden City of Samal. The remaining pathways include Surigao City to San Jose in the Dinagat Islands, Socorro to Hayanggabon in Surigao del Norte, and Socorro to Dapa in Surigao del Norte.
MARINA announced that it will verify passenger logs and implement transparent auditing frameworks to disburse the subsidies directly to boat and ship operators, keeping consumer fares stable at the ticket booth.
