Comedian and TV personality Pooh has reignited public discussion on the high cost of domestic air travel in the Philippines after sharing screenshots comparing local and international flight prices on social media.
In a Facebook post, Pooh revealed that he attempted to book a Manila–Catarman–Manila round-trip flight from January 26 to 29 and was surprised to find that the fare was nearly the same as an international flight to Hong Kong.
Based on the screenshots he shared, the domestic round-trip flight to Catarman, Northern Samar cost approximately ₱17,388. The non-stop flight had an estimated travel time of 1 hour and 35 minutes.
In comparison, a non-stop Manila–Hong Kong–Manila round-trip flight scheduled on January 29 was priced at USD 292.60, which, when converted to Philippine pesos, amounted to nearly the same cost—despite the longer travel time of 2 hours and 25 minutes.
“Sinubukan kong mag-book ng Manila–Catarman–Manila and nag-compare ako ng Manila–Hong Kong–Manila… totoo nga ang tsismis! Halos pareho lang,” Pooh wrote.
“#NorthernSamarTourism #DOTR #NorthernSamar #PAL Jan 26 to 29 nag-compare lang ako,” he added.
Pooh’s post quickly drew reactions from netizens, many of whom shared similar experiences and frustrations over the cost of domestic travel.
One commenter wrote, “I booked mine for ₱16k Manila–Catarman–Manila, and ₱7.8k only for Clark–Hong Kong–Clark. The difference is crazy.” Another said, “Mag-Hong Kong na lang ako, di na lang ako uuwi sa amin.”
The discussion echoed a recent post by TV host Bianca Gonzalez, who also questioned why a local trip to Siargao cost more than travel to nearby Asian destinations.
“Totoo. Bakit ganun. We booked a trip to Siargao and it is more expensive than a trip to Hong Kong, Bangkok, or Vietnam. Mas mahirap suportahan ang lokal na turismo dahil ang mahal,” Gonzalez previously wrote.
The recurring comparisons have fueled concerns that high domestic airfares are discouraging Filipinos from supporting local tourism, pushing travelers instead toward international destinations perceived as more affordable.
Amid these concerns, the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) has announced plans for Travel Tour Expo 2026, which aims to offer promotional deals and discounted travel packages in response to reports that local travel costs have become less competitive.
