Sandro Marcos, the President's son and House Majority Leader, has filed a bill seeking to eliminate the travel tax in the country. According to him, it is no longer helpful and instead burdens Filipino families and slows down the development of tourism.
In his statement on February 4, 2026, Marcos said that the travel tax prevents Filipino families from using their limited resources for basic needs or simply traveling to work, see family, or take advantage of other opportunities. "When travel is more expensive, fewer people move, fewer people spend, and fewer opportunities circulate in the economy." he added.
Marcos also explained that Presidential Decree 1183, which was implemented during the time of his grandfather, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., should be repealed, along with the revised Tourism Act of 2009, to remove fixed travel taxes on Filipino travelers. He noted that the current travel tax contradicts the 2022 ASEAN Tourism Agreement, which seeks to eliminate travel taxes to facilitate inter-ASEAN travel.
According to him, government programs should be funded through transparent budgeting, not through fees that overburden travelers. Currently, the Philippines is the only country in Southeast Asia that charges its own citizens a travel tax, ranging from P1,620 to P2,700 depending on the class of seat. Part of the collection goes to TIEZA, CHED, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts for tourism and education.
Marcos believes that the removal of the travel tax will encourage more domestic and international travel, which will boost tourism sectors such as hotels, transportation, tours, and retail. "Travel is not a luxury for many Filipinos. It is part of the family connection and the livelihood of workers,," he concluded. The proposal was filed at a time when the public strongly condemned the government for encouraging domestic travel even though it is more expensive compared to traveling abroad.
