MANILA, Philippines — The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has officially set a 30-percent ceiling on all fare and cargo rate increases for domestic shipping companies, seeking to balance the survival of the maritime industry with the protection of consumers during the ongoing global fuel crisis.
The directive, issued on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, follows a series of petitions from major shipping lines requesting rate hikes of as much as 60 to 80 percent. The firms cited the “crippling” cost of bunker fuel, which has nearly doubled in price since the start of hostilities in the Middle East.
MARINA Administrator Sonia Malaluan clarified that while the agency recognizes the “extraordinary” rise in operating expenses, a 30-percent cap is the maximum that the economy can currently absorb without triggering a collapse in the supply chain for island provinces.
“We cannot allow a ‘free-for-all’ in shipping rates,” Malaluan stated. “A 30-percent adjustment is a ‘middle-ground’ that allows ship owners to keep their vessels running while ensuring that the cost of transported goods—like rice, vegetables, and medicine—remains within reach for the average Filipino.”
The new policy allows shipping firms to implement the 30-percent increase as a “temporary fuel surcharge” rather than a permanent base fare hike. This distinction means the surcharge must be automatically rolled back once global oil prices return to a pre-crisis baseline determined by the Department of Energy (DOE).
The cap applies to all domestic passenger vessels (fast crafts and Ro-Ro) and cargo ships operating within Philippine territorial waters.
The decision has drawn mixed reactions across the archipelago:
- Logistics Providers: Many warned that the 30-percent cap might lead to “reduced frequencies” on less profitable routes, particularly to smaller islands in the Visayas and Mindanao, as firms look to cut costs.
- Consumer Groups: While welcoming the cap, groups like the Consumer Rights Watch expressed concern that even a 30-percent hike in cargo rates would lead to a “second-round” price increase for basic commodities in provincial markets.
To help shipping firms navigate the cap, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is finalizing a ₱1.2-billion fuel subsidy package specifically for the maritime sector. Under this program, registered domestic ship owners can claim fuel vouchers to offset a portion of their bunker fuel purchases at designated ports.
Additionally, MARINA has announced a temporary waiver of certain regulatory and docking fees to further lower the overhead for compliant shipping companies.