Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Compressed flights, fewer gov't trips as oil crisis affects PH travel

Article (news)

David Dizon

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Airline companies will compress flights while government will cut down on travel expenses as the Middle East oil <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/3/25/trump-sends-peace-plan-as-iran-opens-to-non-hostile-oil-vessels-0915">crisis </a>affects Philippine travel, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Wednesday.Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez said the DOTr is focusing on ensuring the sustainability and stability of the transport sector, including a close watch on fare hikes, while also distributing cash aid to drivers affected by soaring oil prices.The budget department will also retool government travel expenses to save on fuel costs and use the funds for government subsidies.“Dapat tanggalin yung ibang mga [maintenance and other operating expenses]. This time, ilalaaan ‘yan sa mas kailangang programa tulad ng subsidiya, ayuda,” Lopez said in a DZMM interview.Commercial airlines are also set to cut flight frequencies to some destinations after prices of jet fuel more than doubled from $80-$90 a barrel before the Iran crisis to its current price of $200 per barrel.Lopez said airlines such as Cebu Pacific will be adjusting flight schedules to be more cost-efficient. This, after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr told Bloomberg there is a “distinct possibility” that several flights from the Philippines <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/24/grounding-of-flights-a-distinct-possibility-amid-fuel-scarcity-marcos-1512">may be grounded</a> due to “scarcity” of fuel supply.“If 7 a.m. or 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. may flight na di naman napupuno, they will compress these flights para at least mapuno naman po ‘yung biyahe nila,” the country’s transport chief said. Marcos has declared a state of &quot;<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/24/marcos-declares-state-of-national-energy-emergency-1927">national energy emergency</a>&quot;, citing risks to the domestic fuel supply.The state of emergency was declared hours after the country&#x27;s energy secretary said the Philippines planned to boost the output of its coal-fired power plants to keep electricity costs down as the war wreaks havoc on gas shipments.Lopez also said the government has mandated carpooling for government employees to save on fuel while also encouraging the public to use alternative modes of transportation.“‘Yung MRT, LRT, mas lalo nating pagandahin ‘yung serbisyo natin and to make sure na mas reliable ang ating mga bagon kasi alam natin na ito&#x27;y gagamitin at gagamitin because of increase of fuel prices,” he said.

Airline companies will compress flights while government will cut down on travel expenses as the Middle East oil crisis affects Philippine travel, the Department of Transportation said Wednesday.

Airline companies will compress flights while government will cut down on travel expenses as the Middle East oil crisis affects Philippine travel, the Department of Transportation said Wednesday.