President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will prioritize the abolition of the travel tax imposed on outbound airline passengers, along with 20 pieces of legislation deemed important for passage in the first half of the year, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

Palace Press Officer Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro, said the abolition of the travel tax was among the 21 priority measures presented by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) that were approved by the President.

“During the LEDAC meeting held this morning, President Marcos Jr. prioritized 21 pieces of legislation that will help improve the lives of the people. Among the President’s priorities to be passed in June are the following: Travel Tax Abolition, Expanded Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act of 2026, Fake News and Digital Disinformation, which also aims to close the door to those who commit various online crimes, and the BARMM elections,” Castro said.

House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos filed House Bill 7443 seeking the outright abolition of the travel tax imposed on outbound Filipino travelers.

If signed into law by the President, it will repeal the law that was enacted by his father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., that is known as Presidential Decree No. 1183 issued in 1977 during martial law.

It consolidated and amended prior travel tax laws and became the main legal basis for the modern Philippine travel tax that outbound passengers have been paying since.

GAA to cover lost funds

Castro said that once the travel tax is abolished, projects that were benefiting from it will be financed under the General Appropriations Act.

Currently, travel tax revenues are allocated among the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, the Commission on Higher Education and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

The travel tax is a fee imposed by the government on individuals leaving the country. Most Filipino adults pay the full travel tax of P2,700 for first-class passage, and P1,620 for economy class passage.

As to the effects of the loss of the travel tariff on the economy, Castro said this was not discussed in the LEDAC meeting, since the bill has not been finalized.

Whatever lawmakers decide

Meanwhile, TIEZA general manager Mark Lapid said they will follow what lawmakers would craft for the abolition of the travel tax.

“We do not object to any measures and bills, since this falls under the legislative branch. I am confident that whatever decisions our lawmakers make, it will be for the best of our tourism industry,” Lapid told DAILY TRIBUNE in a text message.

Stakeholders want lower taxes

Meanwhile, Global Tourism Business Association (GTBA) founding chairman Michelle Taylan said the direct and measurable impact of travel tax collections on tourism infrastructure development, destination readiness, and global promotion remain unclear to both industry stakeholders and the traveling public.

She said publicly available data showed that travel tax collections amounted to several billion pesos annually, making it one of the more consistent revenue sources tied to outbound travel.

However, the GTBA emphasized that revenue size alone should not be the measure of success, as what matters is whether these funds are translated into visible improvements in tourism sites, enhanced visitor experiences, and stronger destination marketing that can benefit both domestic and inbound tourism in the long run.

“Let’s not jump the gun and move to scrap the travel tax altogether,” Taylan said. “I think what we need is a comprehensive review. Let the people know where the money is going. If we see that it’s being earmarked for tourism projects and the development of our tourism sites, then it’s something we would want to keep to improve the industry.”

As part of its position, the GTBA put forward a set of policy proposals aimed at making the travel tax more responsive to current economic realities and global tourism standards.

These include reducing the tax amount to a more competitive range of P300 to P500, easing the burden on Filipino travelers while maintaining the revenue potential for tourism-related programs.

The GTBA also recommended allocating travel tax funds to high-impact tourism projects, such as site upgrades, sustainability initiatives, digital promotion, and community-based tourism development.

The organization further called for broader travel tax exemptions for specific groups, including overseas Filipino workers, persons with disability, and students, who often travel for work, education, or essential purposes rather than leisure.

Other proposals include implementing a tiered travel tax system based on destination or travel class, strengthening transparency and public reporting on travel tax collection and allocation, and formally engaging tourism stakeholders in discussions on long-term reform.

Other measures

Meanwhile, Castro said that aside from the travel tax abolition measure, the President also checked the status of the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill, as it was one of the many pieces of legislation that President Marcos and the Filipinos would want passed at the soonest possible time.

“According to Senator Risa Hontiveros, who was among those present at the meeting this morning, the Senate is already conducting a public consultation on this matter, which they started in Pasig City. They are also scheduled to conduct consultations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. In the House of Representatives, House Speaker Faustino Dy emphasized that the House will also conduct a public consultation nationwide,” Castro told reporters.

Castro also said the President emphasized the importance of passing the Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability or CADENA Act, the Independent People’s Commission Act, and the Partylist System Reform Act.