Travel tax repeal advances at House

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February 24, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The House tourism panel yesterday approved a bill abolishing the decades-old travel tax that has burdened Filipino travelers.

Panel chairman Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona approved the six bills seeking the abolition of the travel tax, including House Bill 7443 filed by Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos.

Madrona directed the committee secretariat to prepare the report and transmit it to the ways and means panel headed by Marikina City Rep. Miro Quimbo and appropriations panel led by Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Suansing.

The approval was subjected to the adoption of an alternative funding mechanism to protect programs currently financed by travel tax collections.

The tourism panel initially tackled 12 House bills proposing travel tax exemptions for specific sectors, as well as the privilege speech of Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez calling for the lifting of the tax for departing Filipinos.

Madrona said the exemption bills would no longer be needed if the travel tax is abolished and would be included in the consolidated measure.

Suansing, for her part, assured stakeholders that funding protections would be refined as the bill advances through the legislative process.

Removing the travel tax would lower plane fares, possibly generating around P22 billion in annual revenues for the government, Quimbo said.

Quimbo said the House is targeting the proposed measure’s passage before their June break.