House panel approves bill abolishing travel tax

The House Committee on Tourism has approved a bill removing the travel tax for Pinoy travelers.

On Monday, Feb. 23, the committee led by Romblon representative Eleandro Jesus Madrona formally backed the six measures seeking to abolish the travel tax. Madrona ordered the panel’s secretariat to prepare the committee report and transmit it to the Committees on Ways and Means and Appropriations for further action.

The endorsement, however, comes with the condition that a reliable alternative funding system will be put in place to ensure the continuity of programs funded by travel tax collections.

During the hearing, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid defended the travel tax and explained that the money collected from it funds various government programs.

"Ang travel tax po ay hindi lamang basta pondo o numero sa balanse ng gobyerno. Ang bawat piso na nakokolekta natin ay may kwento ng serbisyo at kapaki-pakinabang na proyekto sa bawat sityo, barangay, munisipyo, syudad at lalawigan sa ating bansa," Lapid said.

"Ito po ay napupunta sa pagpapatayo at pagpapaganda ng mga pampublikong pasyalan kagaya ng mga Burnham Park sa Baguio, Tagaytay Picnic Grove sa Cavite, Luneta Park sa Manila, MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park sa Leyte, Ramon Magsaysay Park sa Davao, sa mga malinis at maayos na palikuran kagaya ng tourist rest areas, sa mga water and sewerage treatment facilities sa Boracay, sa Coron, sa Puerto Galera," he added.

Aside from that, he noted that 40% of the travel tax goes to the Commission on Higher Education for their tourism scholars, and that 10% goes to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

The travel tax currently amounts to P1,620 for Economic or Business Class and P2,700 for First Class.

Should the proposed measure be approved, TIEZA will refund any previously paid travel taxes to passengers with flights scheduled on or after the date of effectivity.

Most airlines already include the travel tax in the total ticket price when you book your flight online or through a travel agent. If it’s not included in your ticket, you can pay online before your flight via TIEZA.

You can also settle it on the day of your flight at a TIEZA Travel Tax counter available at airports.