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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider House tourism panel chief upbeat with Senate promise to pass travel tax abolition bill this year

House tourism panel chief upbeat with Senate promise to pass travel tax abolition bill this year

Published Aug 24, 2026 09:49 am

At A Glance

  • The House passed HB No. 8464 on March 16 and sent it to the Senate, where Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian committed to approving the travel tax abolition this year despite an estimated P6 billion revenue loss.
  • House tourism panel chairman Eleandro Jesus Madrona emphasized that removing the tax would make foreign travel more attainable for ordinary Filipinos, many of whom save diligently for leisure trips and family visits abroad.
  • Gatchalian says that tourism growth could offset the revenue loss and noted that the Senate is reviewing higher sin taxes on alcohol, cigarettes, and vape products.
(Unsplash)
(Unsplash)


House Committee of Tourism Chairman Romblon lone district Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona says the common Filipinos' dream of traveling abroad is on its way to becoming more achievable.
This, after Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian that the Senate would pass the proposed travel tax abolition bill this year.
“The announcement of our good Senate president is good news to millions of our kababayan who travel abroad,” Madrona said over the weekend.
He said many Filipino families, including salaried workers, religiously save money to be able to go to some foreign destinations mostly for leisure or vacation, with a large number of them visiting their relatives or friends.
“For them, traveling abroad is a dream, which they achieve by saving whatever they can from their income. The abolition of the travel tax will make it easier for them to realize this dream,” he said.
Madrona added that the travel tax abolition bill would benefit millions of Filipino travelers and encourage more Filipinos to travel abroad. The travel tax is P1,620 for economy or business-class passengers, and P2,700 for first-class travelers.
He cited Department of Tourism (DOT) data showing that 7.6 million Filipinos traveled abroad in 2025.
The House of Representatives, by an overwhelming vote, passed House Bill (HB) No. 8464, titled, “An Act abolishing the travel tax,” on third and final reading last March 16. It transmitted the bill to the Senate the following day.
Its prime movers in the chamber were Majority Leader Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos and House Speaker Isabela 6th district Rep. Faustino "Bojie" Dy III.
It was endorsed by Madrona’s committee and the committees on appropriations and ways and means chaired respectively by Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing and Marikina City 2nd district Rep. Miro Quimbo.
At a Management Association of the Philippines forum last Thursday, Gatchalian said the Senate would prioritize the approval of the travel tax abolition bill within this year.
“Ang revenue loss niya, estimate (The estimated revenue loss), is almost around P6 billion. We think that it will be offset by the growth in the tourism industry,” he said.
Gatchalian said the Senate would also consider increasing on liquor and tobacco products.
“Mahirap naman mag-pass ng batas na mawawalan ng koleksyon ang gobyerno, wala tayo pampalit. Pinag-aaralan rin ibang sin taxes tulad ng alcohol, tulad ng sigarilyo, vape,” he added.
(It’s difficult to pass a law that would reduce government collections when we have nothing to replace them with. Other sin taxes are also being studied, such as those on alcohol, cigarettes, and vape.)

Related Tags

travel tax Senate House of Representatives Sherwin Gatchalian Eleandro Jesus Madrona
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