Ched Rick Gatchalian

Travelers arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in Pasay City on August 4, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

DOTr told: Ensure better NAIA services before implementing 'nearly double' terminal fees

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175592473950720230804-naia-travellers-jc-2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Travelers arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in Pasay City on August 4, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News "/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Travelers arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in Pasay City on August 4, 2023.<em> Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — As terminal fees in the country&#x27;s main gateway are set to soar next month, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) party-list is asking the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to hit the brakes and prioritize lowering fares instead of doubling them.</p><p>This after Transport Secretary Vince Dizon himself defended the increase, saying it was part of the concession agreement with New NAIA Infra Corp.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/8/22/davao-love-bus-also-offers-free-rides-1847"><strong>NAIA terminal fee to nearly double next month</strong></a></div><p>In a statement on Saturday, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said Dizon should make sure that NAIA services have improved and have become more efficient before allowing the increase.</p><p>TUCP party-list Rep. Raymond Mendoza said that many Filipinos are struggling economically and lowering fees and fares is the fair move.</p><p>The terminal fee at NAIA will increase on September 14, exactly a year since NNIC took over airport operations.</p><p>For departing international flights, the fee will go up to P950 from P550; while the domestic flight terminal fee almost doubles to P390 from P200 per passenger.</p><p>Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Eric Ines told ABS-CBN News that the terminal fee currently is &quot;one of the lowest — if not the lowest — in the Southeast Asian region.&quot;</p><p>In the same statement, Mendoza scored Dizon for seeming to be quick to support fee increases,</p><p>“Bakit sa diskwento sa tren para sa ating mga manggagawang minimum—na araw-araw pumipila ng madaling araw at nakikipagsiksikan araw-araw—ay tikom ang bibig?&quot;</p><p>(How come when it comes to train fare discounts for our minimum-wage workers, who line up at dawn and squeeze into crowded trains each day, he is silent?)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/8/22/naia-terminal-fees-are-going-up-next-month-here-s-why-1020"><strong>NAIA terminal fees are going up next month. Here&#x27;s why</strong></a></div><div><strong>50 PERCENT TRAIN FARE DISCOUNT FOR MINIMUM-WAGE EARNERS</strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><p>Mendoza called on the DOTr to sympathize with workers whose salary is barely enough to feed their families.</p><p>The party-list proposed earlier this week a 50-percent discount on fares on Light Railr Transit-1, LRT-2 and Metro Rail Transit-3.</p><p>Mendoza reminded the DOTr that &quot;public service&quot; would mean prioritizing the interests of common Filipino workers over the interests of private firms.</p><p>He said it would be easy to verify that a passenger is a minimum-wage earner through certificates of employment and payslips.</p><p>&quot;Huwag hayaang masakripisyo ang kakarampot na sweldo ng manggagawa na dapat ay para sa pagkain at pabahay para lamang makapasok at makauwi galing trabaho,” he said.</p><p>(Do not let the low wages of workers — which should be for food and housing — be sacrificed just so they can ride to and from work.)</p><p>TUCP stated earlier that minimum-wage workers are &quot;left behind&quot; with the government&#x27;s 50-percent fare discount for students, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and senior citizens on LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/8/13/student-beep-cards-with-automatic-50-pct-fare-discount-to-launch-in-september-0802"><strong>Student Beep cards with automatic 50 pct fare discount to launch in September</strong></a></div>

<p>As terminal fees in the country's main gateway are set to soar next month, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) party-list is asking the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to hit the brakes and prioritize lowering fares instead of doubling them.</p>

As terminal fees in the country's main gateway are set to soar next month, the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) party-list is asking the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to hit the brakes and prioritize lowering fares instead of doubling them.

DOTr told: People need lower fares, not higher airport terminal fees

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DOTr told: People need lower fares, not higher airport terminal fees

Ched Rick Gatchalian,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 23, 2025 01:24 PM PHT

Read More:

NAIA

Ninoy Aquino International Airport

Terminal fee

DOTR

Department of Transportation

Trade Union Congress of the Philippines

TUCP

Raymond Mendoza

Minimum-wage earners

MRT

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