MANILA — Senator Erwin T. Tulfo has filed a bill that seeks to abolish the travel tax, arguing that it hinders the right of Filipinos to travel.

Senate Bill No. 1409 cites the ASEAN Tourism Agreement, which the Philippines signed in 2002, as a framework for making travel more accessible.

“Nearly fourteen years since the Philippines signed the ASEAN Tourism Agreement, we still impose this travel tax,” Tulfo said.

Tulfo described the measure as a “concrete step toward ensuring that travel becomes more equitable, accessible, and reasonably priced for Filipinos.”

Currently, travel tax collections are allocated under several laws: 50% goes to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, 40% to the Commission on Higher Education, and 10% to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

Travel tax rates for economy to first-class passage range from P1,620 to P2,700, while standard reduced rates are P810 to P1,350, and privileged reduced rates for dependents of Overseas Filipino Workers range from P300 to P400.

“If we really want to improve the country’s tourism sector and be at par with our neighboring Southeast Asian countries, we have to remove these barriers that disempower Filipinos to travel,” Tulfo said.

“Filipinos deserve a better travel experience that could render not only good memories but also better expose them to various cultures around the world,” he added