Fastferries plying the Bacolod-Iloilo route are also feeling the pinch of higher oil prices with fuel eating up almost 50 percent of their revenues, as in the case of Weesam Express, its manager Frank Carbon said.

“Most shipping companies are viable, meaning they can only make money, if their fuel cost is between 38 to 40 percent (of operating cost). For us, it’s 50 percent. We’re really hard up,” he said.

Carbon said that since fuel is a cost-driver, an increase in oil price also means higher prices of lubricants and all other maintenance and operating costs.  

“We can’t do anything about it except to increase our fare rates, but only very minimally at P10,” he said. For economy seats, for example, it will be from P220 to P230.

“That is just to cover the increase in diesel fuel. In fact, we’ve been advised by oil companies that the latest increase this March is not the last. Another 50-centavo increase is expected before the month ends,” Carbon told the DAILY STAR.  

As of yesterday, Weesam, which has eight one-hour trips daily, four from Bacolod to Iloilo and four from Iloilo to Bacolod, charges P450 for roundtrip travel, including terminal fee, for economy seats. A one-way economy ticket costs P270 while a first-class seat is priced at P350.

Carbon also said that Weesam, which has an average of 150 passengers per trip, could also suffer a drop in passenger volume by 10 to 15 percent this summer. This is because the public would rather spend their money on food instead of travel, he said.

Moreover, some passengers also prefer to board roll-on, roll-off vessels like Montenegro Lines in going to Iloilo, which causes  fastcrafts like Weesam to lose commuters.

They compete with us in terms of passengers, of course, Carbon said.

He said that some travelers bound for central and northeastern Panay take the RORO vessels because these dock in Dumangas port in northern Iloilo which is nearer their destinations. Although it takes longer, usually two hours to reach Iloilo by RORO, passengers can save on travel costs by 50 to 75 percent.

For its Dumangas to BREDCO port route, Montenegro Lines charges P90 for non-aircon accommodation and P110 for aircon seats.*NLG

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