(MIO, CATARMAN, NORTHERN SAMAR FACEBOOK)
TACLOBAN CITY — Local officials in Northern Samar are calling for more affordable and transparent airfare pricing, raising concerns over the high cost of flights on the Catarman-Manila route during a recent meeting with airline representatives.
The issue was brought up during the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Northern Samar Chapter meeting at the provincial capitol, where mayors cited mounting complaints from residents over ticket prices that reportedly range from P15,000 to P20,000 per seat.
Catarman Mayor Dianne Rosales led the discussion, asking Philippine Airlines (PAL) officials about possible interventions to lower fares, stressing that the high cost of air travel is affecting not only residents but also tourism and overall economic activity in the province.
PAL Tacloban Area Manager Joery Fallori explained that flights to Catarman are operated using turboprop aircraft, such as the Q400, due to airport limitations, which results in higher operational costs compared to larger jets.
He added that ticket prices tend to be lower when booked in advance but increase closer to departure dates depending on seat availability. However, he noted that fare structures are determined by the airline’s pricing specialists.
Several mayors expressed concern over the absence of these pricing specialists at the meeting, saying their presence could have provided clearer explanations on how fares are computed.
Catubig Mayor Solomon Vicencio questioned the lack of detailed fare breakdown, while Mapanas Mayor Ronn Michael Tejano highlighted the impact of high airfare on students and senior citizens who have limited options and cannot easily endure long land travel.
San Antonio Mayor Gary Lavin also proposed adjusting flight schedules to better accommodate passengers traveling from far-flung municipalities.
LMP Northern Samar Chapter President Mayor Mary Ann Avalon said local leaders are united in seeking “fair fare” and greater transparency from airlines, adding that PAL is expected to present a detailed pricing breakdown during the next LMP meeting in May.
Officials also discussed the need to expand flight routes and increase flight frequency to improve connectivity, support tourism, and stimulate economic growth in Northern Samar.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
