The Department of Transportation (DOTr) clarified that it is not against Department of Tourism-Accredited Travel Agencies and online travel agencies (OTAs), but the practice of charging of ridiculously exorbitant fares that take advantage of crisis situations like the one currently happening in Tacloban, Leyte.
The agency issued this clarification on June 5, 2025 following Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon’s earlier directive for the filing of an economic sabotage case against Malaysian-based online booking platform AirAsia Move for absurd and criminal pricing of one-way plane ticket going to Tacloban City amidst a transport situation in the province due to partial closure of the San Juanico Bridge.
Dizon said that the price gouging is against the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to provide affordable travel to Filipinos.
“We should never allow our people to be abused,” the Secretary said during a press conference Monday, June 2, 2025.
The filing of charges came after the transport chief was informed by Leyte 4th District Rep. Richard Gomez that he purchased plane tickets at AirAsia Move for one-way Tacloban-Manila flight amounting to P77,704 or almost P40,000 ticket each for him and his wife Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Gomez—three times higher than the actual air fare of around P12,000.
“Clearly, this is just absurd. This is actually criminal,” Dizon said.
Aside from the cease and desist order of the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) against AirAsia Move, the unscrupulous price will be investigated by the CAB and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), while the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group will take down the app immediately.
“I’ve asked the PNP Anti-Cybercrime to take it (app) down today and apart from the cease and desist order, I’ve also asked the DOTr and CAB to file a criminal economic sabotage case against AirAsia Move,” Dizon said, adding the agencies will also investigate other online platforms selling tickets to other destinations.
Secretary Dizon also directed CAB to publish the correct amount of domestic plane tickets, while encouraging passengers to directly buy tickets at airlines and not through online.
The DOTr assures DOT-Accredited Travel Agencies and OTAs that they are not the subject of the ongoing investigations.
The DOTr recognizes the important role of DOT-Accredited Travel Agencies and OTAs in making travel more accessible and affordable by working diligently to find the best rates possible for flights, hotels, accommodations and other travel packages.
