A passenger ferry from Lucena City, Quezon sails into Mogpog, Marinduque. ABS-CBN News, file
MANILA — The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) said it will review the latest fare adjustments implemented by ferry operators serving the island provinces of Mindoro, Romblon and Marinduque, as well as other routes in the Visayas.
Many passengers, particularly those from Mindoro, have protested the latest increase in ferry fares, saying the higher rates are no longer reasonable, especially amid the rising cost of living.
Among the shipping companies that have announced and implemented the latest fare increases are Montenegro Shipping Lines, Starlite Ferries, Starhorse Shipping Lines, Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corporation and Island Water.
The shipping companies did not disclose the percentage of their latest fare increases.
However, industry sources who requested anonymity said the adjustments range from 18 percent to 20 percent, following another increase in fuel prices, which have climbed to more than P100 per liter.
However, MARINA Region IV Director Maximo Bañares Jr. stressed that the fare adjustment allowed by the agency should not exceed 10 percent.
“Ginagawa na po ng aming isang section yung pag-review po doon sa mga increase at aabisuhan po namin sila 'pag sobra po yung ginawa po nilang pagtaas,” Bañares said in an interview with DZMM Teleradyo.
Bañares said MARINA would remind ferry operators that there is a ceiling on fare increases under existing regulations.
Ferry operators have implemented successive fare adjustments since March and April this year as the Middle East war sparked by US and Israeli attacks on Iran in February choked fuel supplies and drove prices up.
MARINA also stressed that ferry operators should automatically roll back their fares once petroleum product prices decline.
Fuel prices seen to roll back next week
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