Sen. Mark A. Villar is urging his colleagues to ensure the swift passage of Senate Bill No. 1870, or the proposed Travel Tax Abolition Act, which seeks to remove the decades-old travel tax imposed on Filipinos going abroad.
‘Hindi dapat maging dagdag na pasanin ang pag-alis ng bansa, lalo na para sa mga Pilipinong bumibiyahe upang magtrabaho, mag-aral, magpagamot, magnegosyo, o makasama ang kanilang pamilya. Panahon nang alisin ang travel tax at ibalik sa ating mga kababayan ang perang maaari nilang magamit sa mas mahalagang pangangailangan,’ Villar said.
(‘Leaving the country should not be an extra burden, especially for Filipinos traveling to work, study, get medical treatment, do business, or be with their families. It’s time to remove the travel tax and return to our countrymen the money that they can use for more important needs.’)
The travel tax was introduced under Presidential Decree No. 1183 in 1977, when overseas travel was widely viewed as a privilege.
Villar called it an ‘archaic’ policy that no longer reflected present realities. As it is, he pointed out, Filipino travelers pay a full travel tax of ?1,620 for economy-class passage and ?2,700 for first-class passage. A family of four traveling in economy class must therefore spend an additional ?6,480 before leaving the country.
‘Malaking bagay na sa isang pamilya ang ?6,480. Maaari itong ilaan sa pagkain, pamasahe, tirahan, gamot, o iba pang gastusin sa biyahe. Sa gitna ng patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin, nararapat lamang na alisin natin ang mga singil na hindi na angkop sa kasalukuyang panahon,’ Villar added.
(‘The P6,480 is a big deal for a family. It can be set aside for food, fare, rent, medicine, or other expenses during a trip. Amid a continuing rise in the prices of goods, it’s just right for us to remove a charge that is not suited to the present.’)
If Senate Bill No. 1870 becomes law, government agencies and private entities will be prohibited from collecting travel tax, and passengers who have already paid the tax for flights scheduled on or after the law’s effectivity will be entitled to an immediate refund.
The proposal also supports the objectives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Tourism Agreement, which seeks to facilitate travel and promote stronger connectivity among Asean member states.
Villar allayed concerns about possible disruptions to government programs, noting that the bill has safeguards for the continued funding through the annual General Appropriations Act for projects previously supported by travel tax collections.
At present, the travel tax collection to the following agencies:
50 percent to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority for tourism development
40 percent to the Commission on Higher Education for tourism-related educational programs
10 percent to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts
‘Patuloy nating susuportahan ang turismo, edukasyon, at kultura, ngunit hindi kailangang manggaling ang pondo sa dagdag na singil sa mga Pilipinong bumibiyahe. Ang mga ito ay pambansang programa na dapat pondohan sa ilalim ng pambansang badyet,’ Villar stressed.
(‘We will continue to support tourism, education, and culture, but the funds need not come from an extra charge to Filipino travelers. These are national programs that should be funded through the national budget.’)
‘Simple ang layunin natin: bawasan ang gastos, paluwagin ang biyahe, at bigyan ng mas malaking kalayaan ang bawat Pilipinong maghanap ng oportunidad saan mang panig ng mundo,’ Villar said.
(‘Our goal is simple: Lessen expenses, make travel easier, and give each Filipino more freedom to look for opportunities in whatever part of the world.’)