Travel tax reform pushed anew at Senate amid rising airport fees

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

Philstar.com

January 13, 2026 | 11:41am

MANILA, Philippines — A measure to remove the travel tax on economy class passengers has been pushed at Senate, arguing that it adds an undue financial burden on ordinary Filipinos.

Sen. Raffy Tulfo said Senate Bill 88, which he filed, seeks to a wider pool for travel tax exemptions but retains the levy for business class and higher. He said such passengers have a greater capacity to contribute to national development.

“It cannot be denied that the ordinary Filipino traveler, particularly those who travel on economy class, bears an undue financial burden because of travel tax,” the senator said in a statement Tuesday, January 13. “This legislative measure seeks to exempt economy class passengers from the payment of travel tax.”

Under current rules, the full travel tax amounts to about P1,620 for economy class travelers and P2,700 for first-class passengers. Reduced and privileged rates are available for certain groups such as dependents of overseas Filipino workers.

Targeted reform. Tulfo said his proposal does not seek to abolish the travel tax entirely, but instead to create a more equitable structure that would spare budget-conscious travelers from the additional cost.

“The government shall continue to secure the necessary resources for (Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority), (Commission on Higher Education) and the (National Commission for Culture and the Arts)... while alleviating the financial strain on the average Filipino traveler,” he said, referring to agencies funded in part by travel tax collections.

Other proposals. Another travel tax reform measure filed in 2025 sought to abolish the levy altogether. In Senate Bill 1529, Sen. Joel Villanueva revives a similar measure former senator Koko Pimentel filed, arguing that the tax hinders Filipinos’ right to travel under the Constitution.

Article III, Section 6 of the Charter states that the right to travel shall not be "impaired except in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health, as may be provided by law."

The current rate, Villanueva said, is a "significant amount for lower-income households."

"A family of four, for instance, would have to pay P6,480, money that could be better used for other necessaities or reinvested in the local economy," Villanueva wrote.

He also the bill it aligns with commitments under the ASEAN Tourism Agreement, although government revenue authorities warned of potential fiscal impacts.

Travel frustrations, rising fees

Tulfo’s and Villanueva's appeals come amid frustrations over costs and travel experiences at Philippine airports.

International airport operators have increased passenger and terminal fees, including at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), where takeoff and landing fees and passenger charges have been raised in recent seasons as part of broader privatization and modernization efforts.

Travelers have also faced congestion and delays at NAIA, including reports of long queues and aircraft pushback delays at the main international gateway.

While supporters of reform argue that reducing barriers like the travel tax could ease the overall burden on Filipino travelers. Other stakeholders, on the other hand, have said revenue from the levy is important for tourism, education and cultural programs funded through TIEZA and other agencies.