Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has endorsed a bill seeking to abolish the travel tax for Filipino travelers, placing it among 21 priority bills he wants Congress to pass by June, a Palace official said Tuesday, Feb. 10.
Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the proposal was approved during a meeting of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) at Malacañan Palace.
She said the president sees the move as a way to cut travel costs and boost tourism. She added that many travel also for work and emergencies.
“The president underscored the importance of easing expenses for tourists and travelers. The travel tax abolition is a priority bill to help raise the country’s tourism sector,” said Castro.
Travel tax proceeds are spent for tourism infrastructure, education, and cultural promotion.
“If the fee is fully abolished, it will be funded by the government, of course, through the General Appropriations Act,” she said.
Meanwhile, Marcos also sought updates on the long-delayed anti-political dynasty bill, which lawmakers said is going through public consultations in Congress.
Other priority measures endorsed by the pesident were on anti-fake news and digital disinformation, expanded protections against online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and reforms aimed at transparency and accountability such as the Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability Act.
