Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is seeking to abolish the travel tax levied on Filipino tourists traveling abroad, describing the tax as an “economic burden” that hinders the right to travel of those with limited means.
“By lowering the cost of international travel, we expect to stimulate passenger volume, increase spending on transport, accommodation, food, and services, and generate positive spillovers across the economy,” the explanatory note of Senate Bill No. 1843, filed on 11 February 2026, said.
“Increased travel activity also strengthens people-to-people exchanges and supports the Philippines’ positioning as a competitive and accessible destination,” it added.
Pangilinan explained that the current mandatory travel tax—P2,700 for first-class passengers and P1,620 for economy class—adds an extra cost or burden that impacts Filipinos’ right and ability to travel, which is guaranteed under Article III, Section 6 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.
Instead of collecting the travel tax, the senator said that the current programs it is funding should be charged to the national budget of the Department of Tourism for the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority.
The programs must also receive allocations from the annual appropriations of the Commission on Higher Education for the Higher Education Development Fund and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts for the National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts.
If passed, the measure will abolish the travel tax imposed under Presidential Decree No. 1183, as amended, and Section 73 of Republic Act No. 9593, or the Tourism Act of 2009.
KIKO ISINUSULONG ANG PAGBUWAG NG TRAVEL TAX
Nais ni Senador Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan na buwagin ang pagpataw ng travel tax sa mga turistang Pilipino na nalabas ng bansa pagkatapos niyang tawagin ang naturang buwis na “economic burden (pasanin)” na naghahadlang sa karapatang maglakbay ng mga taong may limitadong kakayanan.
“By lowering the cost of international travel, we expect to stimulate passenger volume, increase spending on transport, accommodation, food, and services, and generate positive spillovers across the economy,” saad ng explanatory note ng Senate Bill No. 1843, na inihain noong Pebrero 11, 2026.
(Sa pamamagitan ng pagpapababa ng gastusin para sa paglalakbay sa labas ng bansa, inaasahan natin na sumigla ang bilang ng mga pasahero, tumaas ang paggastos sa transportasyon, mga tuluyan, pagkain, mga serbisyo, at paglikha ng positibong pag-apaw sa kabuuang ekonomiya.)
“Increased travel activity also strengthens people-to-people exchanges and supports the Philippines’ positioning as a competitive and accessible destination,” dagdag pa nito.
(Ang pagtaas ng paglalakbay ay magpapayabong din ng people-to-people exchanges at susuporta sa posisyon ng Pilipinas bilang isang competitive at accessible na destinasyon)
Ipinaliwanag ni Pangilinan na ang kasalukuyang travel tax—na nagkakahalagang P2,700 para sa first-class na pasahero at P1,620 para sa economy class—ay nagpapakita ng dagdag gastos na nakakapekto sa abilidad ng mga Pilipino na maglakbay, na siyang pinoprotektahan ng Article III, Section 6 ng 1987 Philippine Constitution.
Sa halip ng pagkolekta ng travel tax, sinabi ng senador na ang kasalakuyang mga programa na sinusuportahan ng buwis ay dapat na maisama sa budget ng Department of Tourism para sa Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority.
Pag naipasa, ang batas ay magtatanggal ng travel tax na naipatupad sa ilalim ng Presidential Decree No. 1183, na naamyendahan, at ng Section 73 ng Republic Act No. 9593, o ang Tourism Act of 2009.
Ang mga programa sa turismo at kultura ay maaari ring makatanggap ng pondo mula sa Commission on Higher Education para sa Higher Education Development Fund, at mula sa National Commission for Culture and the Arts para sa National Endowment Fund for Culture and the Arts.