A lawmaker has filed a bill seeking to remove the travel tax, arguing that it hinders Filipinos’ right to travel.

Senate Bill No. 1409, filed by Senator Erwin Tulfo, proposes the removal of the travel tax. He cited the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Tourism Agreement, which the Philippines signed in 2002.

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

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

The current collection of the travel tax is based on several laws. Republic Act (RA) No. 1478, or the Tourism Board Law, allocates 50 percent of collections to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).

Meanwhile, RA 7722, or the Higher Education Act, allocates 40 percent of revenues to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and RA 9593, or the Tourism Act of 2009, allocates the remaining 10 percent to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

Currently, travel tax rates for economy to first-class passage range from ₱1,620 to ₱2,700.

Standard reduced rates range from ₱810 to ₱1,350, while privileged reduced rates for dependents of Overseas Filipino Workers range from ₱300 to ₱400.

“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 discourage Filipinos from traveling,” Tulfo said.

“Filipinos deserve a better travel experience that can create not only good memories but also greater exposure to various cultures around the world,” he added.