Senator Raffy Tulfo has once again urged the government to eliminate the travel tax for Filipinos flying in economy class, labeling the fee an excessive financial strain on ordinary citizens.
Equity Over Abolition: The Core of Senate Bill No. 88
On Tuesday, January 13, 2026, Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services, detailed his proposal under Senate Bill No. 88. The measure does not seek to abolish the travel tax entirely but aims to create a fairer system. It specifically proposes to exempt economy class passengers while retaining the levy for those traveling via business class or first class.
"It cannot be denied that the ordinary Filipino traveler, particularly those who travel on economy class, bears an undue financial burden because of travel tax," Senator Tulfo stated. He emphasized that this burden is worsened by the multitude of other taxes Filipinos already pay, including income and consumption taxes.
Targeting Capacity to Contribute
The senator clarified the rationale behind targeting premium cabin travelers. "It merely introduces a more equitable structure by retaining the imposition of travel tax on passengers traveling via business class or higher, whose financial standing affords them greater capacity to contribute to national development," he explained.
Tulfo also addressed potential funding concerns, assuring that the proposed exemption would not impact key agencies. He stated that the measure is designed to ensure that programs run by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) would continue to receive their necessary funding.
A Renewed Push for Relief
This latest call marks a renewed legislative effort by Tulfo to provide financial relief to the average Filipino traveler. The debate centers on balancing revenue generation for tourism and cultural projects with the goal of reducing the cost of air travel for the majority. The proposal now awaits further discussion and action in the Philippine Senate.
