MANILA – As the holiday exodus looms with its predictable crush of airports and highways, ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo on Saturday fired a pointed salvo at the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), demanding a 20% slash in domestic airfares to supercharge tourism and ease the pinch on Pinoy travelers. The call, dropped during a fiery press briefing, spotlights a festering frustration: Sky-high tickets that clip wings and clipboards, turning dream getaways into grounded gripes amid a post-pandemic boom that’s left local routes pricier than international jaunts.
Tulfo, the no-nonsense solon who’s made consumer crusades his calling card, didn’t mince words on the absurdity. “Domestic flights are more expensive than international ones – that’s not right,” he thundered, waving data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) that pegs average Manila-to-Cebu round-trips at P8,000-P12,000, rivaling fares to Singapore or Bangkok. His fix? A temporary 20% cap on base fares for routes under 500 kilometers, enforced by the CAB through airline negotiations or outright mandates, with subsidies for loss-making lines to keep schedules humming. “This isn’t charity; it’s common sense. Lower prices mean more tourists, more jobs, more pesos in pockets,” Tulfo argued, eyeing a DOT-backed pilot for peak seasons like Christmas and Holy Week.
The timing couldn’t be sharper: With 5.5 million domestic travelers projected for the holidays – up 15% from 2024 – the DOT warns of P10 billion in lost revenue if fares stay sky-high. Tulfo’s beef traces to chronic woes: Fuel surcharges that balloon 30% of tickets, slot shortages at NAIA, and airlines’ monopoly grip that stifles competition. “The CAB has the power – use it,” he urged, vowing to haul aviation bosses to a House hearing if relief lags. DOT Secretary Christina Frasco nodded to the urgency, pledging a joint task force: “Affordable travel is tourism’s engine. We’re aligning with Rep. Tulfo to craft incentives that fly without crashing carriers.”
For the everyday Juan and Maria plotting province pilgrimages or Boracay bashes, Tulfo’s 20% plea feels like a festive favor – a fare freeze that could thaw the travel freeze-out. Critics, including airline reps, counter with fuel volatility and fleet strains, but Tulfo shot back: “Excuses. Passengers paid for the pandemic; now let them fly free.” As Simbang Gabi dawns and airports brace for the barrage, this aerial advocacy isn’t just policy – it’s a push for wings within reach, proving that in the Philippines’ sky-high saga, a little ground control can lift us all.