Some ships plying C. Visayas routes raise fares by 10%

CEBU CITY, Philippines—With the expected surge of passengers going home to the provinces for the Holy Week, some shipping companies are increasing their fares to cope with rising costs of fuel.

But only 10 percent of the shipping companies will increase their fares as most decided to keep the present rate due to stiff competition, according to the Maritime Industry Authority in Central Visayas (Marina-7).

The fare adjustment would be from 5 percent to 10 percent, said Marina-7 legal officer Jose Cabatingan.

Among those who asked for an increase were SuperCat Fast Ferry Corporation (Cebu-Tagbilaran and Cebu-Ormoc routes); Cokaliong Shipping Lines (Cebu-Tagbilaran, Cebu-Leyte, Cebu-Palompon and Cebu-Calbayog routes); Medallon Transport (Cebu-Bato and Bato-Ubay routes); and Asian Marine Transport Corp. (Cebu-Palompon routes and Hagnaya-Sta. Fe route).

The others were Cuadro Alas Navigation Lines Inc and George and Peter Lines Inc (southern Cebu-Negros Oriental route); Ocean Fast Ferries Corp. (Cebu-Camotes route); Gabisan Shipping Lines and Roble Shipping Lines (Cebu-Hilongos route); and Southern Pacific Transport Corp. (Cebu-Bato route).

Cabatingan said most of the shipping companies filed their application for fare adjustment in January.

He said most asked for a 10-percent increase, citing high cost of fuel, insurance, spare parts and operation as the most common reasons.

Cabatingan said the shipping companies were only required to publish their new rates on a newspaper with regional reach. After 14 days, the shipping companies can implement the adjustment.

Contrary to the rest, one shipping firm asked Marina for a fare reduction.

Gothong Southern Shipping Lines lowered its fare from P890 to P880 for the Cebu-Cagayan de Oro City route.

A company official, who asked not to be named, said the competition drove them to reduce their fare and be at par with its competitor, Trans Asia Shipping fare, which was collecting P880 in fare.

Cabatingan said 90 percent of the shipping companies did not ask for a fare adjustment due to competition.

Most noticeable were the 10 shipping companies operating the Cebu to Tubigon town, Bohol, that did not ask for an adjustment. “That’s because of stiff competition among the vessels of this route. Competition really helps our passengers,” he added.