PHP 40 flat rate for Guimaras ferries after fuel price hikes

By Mariela Angella Oladive

GUIMARAS — A standardized ferry fare of PHP 40 for regular passengers will now be implemented on Guimaras-Iloilo routes following a consultative meeting on March 23 convened by the Provincial Government of Guimaras with operators and stakeholders.

The meeting, led by Gov. Ma. Lucille L. Nava and Rep. JC Rahman A. Nava, brought together local officials, representatives from the Maritime Industry Authority Region 6, and ferry operators serving the Jordan-Iloilo City and Buenavista-Iloilo City routes.

The fare adjustment will take effect 14 days after posting.

However, the Buenavista Motorbanca Owners and Sailors Association Marine Transport Corporation has already begun implementing the PHP 40 rate after earlier posting of its notice.

Under the agreement, students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities will continue to receive a 20 percent discount, reducing their fare to PHP 32, in accordance with existing laws.

Fiber boats are the primary mode of sea transport between Guimaras and Iloilo City, ferrying commuters, students, and workers daily across the Iloilo Strait. The fare standardization affects thousands of daily passengers who depend on the ferry service for their commute.

Provincial officials and operators said the standardized rate aims to balance the operational requirements of ferry services with the welfare of commuters.

The agreed rate comes amid continued increases in fuel prices.

Oil firms implemented another round of hikes effective March 24, marking the 11th consecutive increase for gasoline and the 13th for diesel and kerosene, driven by ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Operators noted that the adjustment is not solely due to rising fuel prices but also considers increasing operational costs, compliance with Department of Labor and Employment wage mandates, and the need to adhere to Maritime Industry Authority safety standards to ensure vessels remain seaworthy.

The provincial government said it will request the Maritime Industry Authority to conduct a comprehensive study on fare structures to guide future adjustments.

It also urged the agency to expedite the renewal of vessel documentation to ensure enough boats are available ahead of the expected influx of passengers during Holy Week and the summer season.

Key edits, Franz: Dateline added as “GUIMARAS” since the story originates outside Iloilo. All currency values were reformatted to ISO 4217 with spacing (“P40.00” to “PHP 40,” “P32.00” to “PHP 32”). “Governor” was abbreviated to “Gov.” and “Congressman” to “Rep.” per AP style. “20%” was spelled out as “20 percent” per AP style. Parenthetical acronyms for MARINA, BAMOSA, PWDs, and DOLE were removed on first reference since they either do not recur or were spelled out on subsequent mention. A missing comma after “Rep. JC Rahman A. Nava” was added. A background paragraph was added on the role of fiber boats as the primary mode of sea transport between Guimaras and Iloilo City. Serial commas retained throughout.