Majority Leader Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos' sought-after bill on scrapping the burdensome travel tax has been approved in principle by the House Committee on Tourism.

Tackled by the tourism committee Monday, Feb. 23 was Marcos' measure, House Bill (HB) No. 7443, plus five similar bills that intended to do away with a levy.

The panel, chaired by Romblon lone district Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona, said all six measures would be approved pending the adoption of a clear and sustainable alternative funding mechanism to protect programs currently financed by travel tax collections.

Madrona tasked the committee Secretariat to prepare the committee report and immediately transmit it to the Committees on Ways and Means and Committee on Appropriations for further action.

The ways and means panel will scrutinize the tax provisions of travel tax abolition measures, while the appropriations panel will look into its funding provisions.

Marcos, in filing HB No. 7443, sought the immediate repeal of the travel tax imposed under Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1183 and related provisions of the Tourism Act of 2009.

“The travel tax was created in a very different economic context. Today, it has become an added cost that restricts mobility and weighs heavily on ordinary Filipinos who simply want to travel for work, family or opportunity,” said the presidential son.

Under his bill, the fixed charges — currently reaching ₱2,700 for first-class passengers and ₱1,620 for economy travelers — would be repealed. Marcos said these amounts quickly add up for families and divert resources that could otherwise be spent on basic needs or local economic activity.

“When travel becomes more expensive, fewer people move, fewer people spend and fewer opportunities circulate through the economy. Lowering the cost of travel allows Filipino families to allocate their money where it matters most,” he explained.

The committee also discussed 12 House bills that proposed travel tax exemptions for specific sectors, as well as the privilege speech of Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district Rep. Rufus Rodriguez that called for the lifting of the tax for departing Filipinos.

Madrona says these exemption bills would no longer be needed if the travel tax is abolished.

During the hearing, Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela “Mika” Suansing assured stakeholders that funding protections would be refined as the travel tax abolition bills advance through the legislative process.

“Given the criticality of the funds, we will work together to ensure that those funds will remain available. We hear you. We understand the current structure, and we will craft a mechanism responsive to the needs of the different government agencies,” she said.