Arthur Fuentes

Surfers ride the waves in General Luna in Siargao Island, Surigao Del Norte on October 24, 2023. Travelers have been complaining that airfares to Siargao are more expensive than fares to some international destinations. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Siargao Island

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1770271438108SURF.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Surfers ride the waves in General Luna in Siargao Island, Surigao Del Norte on October 24, 2023. Travelers have been complaining that airfares to Siargao are more expensive than fares to some international destinations. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News"/>Surfers ride the waves in General Luna in Siargao Island, Surigao Del Norte on October 24, 2023. Travelers have been complaining that airfares to Siargao are more expensive than fares to some international destinations. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News </div>MANILA – The Department of Transportation said it is launching an infrastructure blitz to slash domestic airfares by extending runways and upgrading lighting systems across provincial hubs.The  DOTr announced it will lengthen runways at regional airports to a minimum of 2,100 meters, a standard required to accommodate larger jet aircraft. The move follows a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to make domestic travel more affordable and bolster the archipelago&#x27;s vital tourism sector.&quot;Ang polisiya po natin sa DOTr, pagdating sa mga bagong airports na itatayo, lahat dapat ng runway must be 2,100 meters minimum para ready sila for bigger aircrafts [sic] pagdating ng araw,” Lopez said.Under the current system, limited capacity at smaller airports often forces airlines to use smaller turboprop planes, which carry fewer passengers and result in higher per-seat costs.<div>NIGHT FLIGHTS, RED EYES</div>To further drive down prices, the DOTr and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) are prioritizing &quot;night-rating&quot; for tourist-heavy destinations. By installing advanced lighting and navigation systems, airports can operate outside of daylight hours.&quot;Kasi kapag night-rated ang isang paliparan, pwede na hong bumiyahe ang ating mga kababayan sa gabi, madaling araw, at ‘yun po sinasabi natin usually na red-eye flight at sa practice po ay mas mura ang pamasahe diyan,” Lopez said.<div>ALTERNATIVE ROUTES</div>The government has been under pressure to address soaring costs to destinations like the surfing hotspot Siargao, where one-way tickets have previously peaked at P17,500.Beyond aviation, officials are pushing maritime alternatives. A new cruise terminal in Siargao now services 2GO vessels, offering a P3,500 alternative to flying. While the journey takes roughly 28 hours, Lopez described the experience as akin to a &quot;cruise vessel.&quot;The DOTr is also reviewing terminal fees at CAAP-operated airports to see if further reductions can be passed on to travelers.

The Department of Transportation said it is launching an infrastructure blitz to slash domestic airfares by extending runways and upgrading lighting systems across provincial hubs.

The Department of Transportation said it is launching an infrastructure blitz to slash domestic airfares by extending runways and upgrading lighting systems across provincial hubs.

DOTr says working to bring down airfares by lengthening runways, upgrading ports

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DOTr says working to bring down airfares by lengthening runways, upgrading ports

Arthur Fuentes,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 05, 2026 02:04 PM PHT

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Updated Feb 05, 2026 05:19 PM PHT

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