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The Maritime Industry Authority on May 25 officially rolled out its subsidy program that will cover increases in domestic shipping passenger rates for certain routes nationwide
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The Lakbay Alalay ng Gobyerno Program will subsidize the fare hike for sea passengers with the aim of easing the burden on commuters who rely on maritime transport, while sustaining the operations of ship and boat operators
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This is the first time that such government assistance has been extended to the maritime sector
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LAYAG will involve 33 shipping operators, supporting 93 passenger vessels operating along 11 identified high-traffic and essential routes
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The program is estimated to last about two weeks with a budget of P200 million
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) on May 25 officially launched and rolled out its subsidy program that will cover increases in domestic shipping passenger rates for certain routes nationwide.
The Lakbay Alalay ng Gobyerno (LAYAG) Program will subsidize the fare hike for sea passengers in response to the increase in fuel prices due to the Middle East conflict. It aims to ease the burden on commuters who rely on maritime transport, while sustaining the operations of ship and boat operators.
Under MARINA Advisory (MA) No. 2026-20, LAYAG is a net service contracting scheme that will cover the latest allowable required rate adjustment or the fare increase of domestic ship/boat operators as of February 28, 2026, whichever is lower.
The LAYAG Program is part of the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) service contracting program (SCP), which is one of the components of the administration’s broader package of relief measures for Filipinos amid rising oil prices. DOTr, MARINA’s mother agency, has allocated P200 million of the P1 billion budget for the SCP for maritime transport. The other P800 million is being used for road transport.
MARINA administrator Sonai Malaluan, in a speech during the launch, noted that this is the first time that such government assistance has been extended to the maritime sector.
“For us, even though the amount provided is not very high, we in MARINA consider this as a good signal, a very good start that shows the maritime sector is getting the much needed attention from the legislative and even the higher executive branch of government,” she added.
With the limited budget, Malaluan said they have limited the coverage of the program for pure passenger vessels with a travel time of not more than two hours serving routes with a high density of passenger traffic, and no alternative mode of transport.
The program will be participated in by 33 shipping operators, supporting 93 passenger vessels operating along 11 identified high-traffic and essential routes. As of May 25, all the 33 shipping operators have signed service contracting agreements with MARINA.
READ: 10M sea passengers seen to benefit from fare subsidy program
The covered routes are:
- Batangas – Puerto Galera
- Batangas – Calapan
- Jordan Wharf, Guimaras – Parola Wharf, Iloilo City
- Buenavista Wharf, Guimaras – Parola Wharf, Iloilo City
- Rosa, Olango Island – Angasil, Brgy. Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City
- Liloan, Santander, Cebu – Sibulan, Negros Oriental
- Zamboanga City – Basilan
- Cruz, Talicud Island – Poblacion Kaputian (IGACOS)
- Surigao City, Surigao del Norte – San Jose, Province of Dinagat Islands
- Socorro, Surigao del Norte – Hayanggabon, Surigao del Norte
- Socorro, Surigao del Norte – Dapa, Surigao del Norte
The subsidy will be computed based on actual passenger volume per trip and approved fare differentials under MARINA regulations, ensuring that passengers continue to pay only the pre-increase base fare while operators are compensated through government support.
Based on estimates, the program will be able to subsidize the fare increase on the covered routes in about two weeks.
“The amount of subsidy may be small and the duration may be short but we still hope na sana mabawasan ang burden ng ating mga daily commuters,” Malaluan said.
Earlier, MARINA said an estimated 10 million sea passengers are set to benefit from the program.
Aside from the LAYAG Program, Malaluan said MARINA is also pushing to include the maritime sector in future fuel subsidy under the Kalinga Act, a proposed national emergency response and resiliency framework that would allow the government to move faster against fuel-driven inflation, energy supply risks and shocks that threaten food, transport, livelihood, and essential services.— Roumina Pablo
