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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Zubiri, DOF chief Go on board with Sandro Marcos' travel tax abolition bill

Zubiri, DOF chief Go on board with Sandro Marcos' travel tax abolition bill

Published Feb 5, 2026 10:30 am

At A Glance

  • No less than Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri and Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Frederick Go are backing House Majority Leader Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep.Snadro Marcos' proposal to get rid of the burdensome travel tax.
Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri (left), Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep.Snadro Marcos (Facebook)
Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri (left), Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep.Snadro Marcos (Facebook)


No less than Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri and Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Frederick Go are backing House Majority Leader Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep.Snadro Marcos' proposal to get rid of the burdensome travel tax.
This was bared by the the presidential son in a chance interview on the sidelines of plena3y sesson Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 5.
It was on Wednesday morning that Marcos announced his filing of House Bill (HB) No.7443, which sought the "immediate abolition" of the travel tax in a bid to uphold Filipinos' constitutional right to travel and at the same time stimulate economic growth.
"I actually had a meeting with Sec. Go of the [DOF] this morning (Wednesday). Full support po siya sa (He's in full support of the) bill to abolish the travel tax,” Marcos told reporters.
“Nag-usap din kami ni Majority Leader Migz Zubiri kaninang umaga (I also spoke with Majority Leader Migz Zubiri this morning) and he will be my counterpart in the Senate to file the bill also, I believe today (Wednesday) or tomorrow (Thursday),” the ranking congressman added.
Marcos said the DOF helped address concerns about funding streams currently sourced from the levy.
“[Secretary Go] assured me that kung ano man ang pondo na pumupunta ngayon galing sa travel tax sa higher education, ay hahanap sila ng ibang source,” he said.
(Secretary Go assured me that the travel tax proceeds that go to education would be sourced elsewhere.)
Equally important is Zubiri's commitment to file a similar bill on the scrapping of the travel tax, since a House bill cannot become a law without a counterpart measure filed in the Senate.
Marcos said both legislative chambers will move to elevate the measure to the administration’s Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) priority list.
“And next week, next Tuesday, we will both push for the inclusion of the bill abolishing the travel tax in the LEDAC priorities. So hopefully magiging prioridad na ‘yan ni Pangulo (So hopefully that becomes the President’s priority), and we will make sure to pass it as soon as possible,” he said.
Marcos says the travel tax has outlived its usefulness and now works against mobility and tourism.
“Because I mean, honestly, again, it’s outdated, it’s a hassle for traveling Filipinos. We need to boost local and international tourism, and travel tax is not the way to do it.”
“So hopefully, makakatulong po ito sa ating mga kababayan (So hopefully, this ends up helping our countrymen), and of course, to all our visiting tourists,” the Ilocano said.
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