The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and major shipping companies have remained silent amid mounting complaints from Bohol passengers questioning why fast craft fares remain high despite the recent decline in fuel prices following tensions linked to the Iran conflict.
Commuters traveling between Bohol and Cebu have increasingly voiced frustration over the continued implementation of fuel surcharges, saying shipping operators were quick to raise fares during the spike in oil prices but have yet to announce corresponding reductions now that fuel prices have eased.
The issue reached the Bohol Provincial Board during its May 26, 2026 regular session, where Board Member DJ Balite formally inquired why fast craft fares have not been adjusted downward despite the stabilization and rollback of fuel prices.
Balite said residents have repeatedly asked why fuel surcharges imposed during the height of the oil crisis remain in place even after several rounds of fuel price reductions nationwide.
“Imposing fuel surcharges during crisis situations is understandable to cushion the impact of higher fuel prices, but fares remain costly even if fuel prices have already stabilized,” Balite said.
He warned that expensive transport costs continue to burden ordinary commuters and negatively affect tourism, livelihoods and the inter-island economy in Bohol.
Fuel prices in the Philippines surged earlier this year as global oil markets reacted to fears of supply disruptions caused by escalating conflict involving Iran in the Middle East.
During the height of the crisis, diesel prices in some areas briefly exceeded P100 per liter.
Since then, oil prices have declined following the easing of geopolitical tensions and improved global supply outlooks, resulting in multiple fuel price rollbacks in the country.
Passengers argued that while shipping firms rapidly implemented fare increases during the fuel crisis, they have not shown the same urgency in reducing fares.
Some commuters expressed fears online that the temporary surcharges imposed during the pandemic and fuel crisis may effectively become permanent.
“We are worried this could become like the pandemic period when fares were never restored to normal,” one passenger said on condition of anonymity.
Cebu-based Boholano broadcaster Jhunnex Napallacan also criticized the lack of public communication from shipping companies regarding possible fare rollbacks.
Napallacan noted that one major fast craft operator, OceanJet, had disabled the comment section on some of its Facebook posts amid growing public calls for lower fares.
“When fuel prices sharply increased before, they raised fares twice. Now that fuel prices have already declined compared to when diesel exceeded P100 per liter, there should at least be some reduction,” Napallacan said.
Shipping firms had earlier described fuel surcharges as temporary measures intended to offset operational costs during periods of elevated fuel prices.As of Friday, however, MARINA and major shipping operators had yet to release any official statement explaining why fast craft fares remain unchanged.