Surigao del Norte First District Rep. Francisco Matugas is advocating for an investigation in the House of Representatives (HoR) into the rising cost of airfares to and from Siargao Island.
Concerns about the high cost of plane tickets to and from Siargao Island, a top tourist spot in the country, have recently grabbed the attention of netizens, who claim the average round-trip ticket costs around P30,000.
“This will greatly affect the tourism industry in Siargao, particularly on the arrivals of our domestic tourists,” Matugas said in an interview.
The solon, who serves as the Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Transportation at the HoR, also claimed to have firsthand experience with the high cost of plane tickets to the island.
“On Monday, I bought a round-trip ticket from Manila to Siargao and back to Manila for P22,000. This is too much,” Matugas said.
He added that a resolution was filed at the Lower House calling for an investigation into the matter.
“We will pursue this investigation, given that Siargao Island is the most affected by this situation. I’ll ask to summon the airline companies for them to explain why the airfares in Siargao are too expensive compared to other destinations in the country,” Matugas said.
The first congressional district covers the whole of Siargao Island, composed of nine municipalities in Surigao del Norte.PNA
