PBBM seeks swift passage of travel tax repeal

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called on Congress to accelerate the passage of several priority measures, singling out House Bill No. 7443, or the proposed Travel Tax Abolition Act of 2026, as a key measure aimed at boosting tourism and easing travel costs, Malacañang said Tuesday.

“The President's priority bill is the travel tax abolition to help boost the country's tourism,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing with the Malacañang Press Corps Tuesday afternoon. 

“The President also expressed the importance of easing the expenses of tourists and travelers,” she furthered. 

The bill was filed by his son, House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st district representative Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos last 4 February 2026, seeking for the repeal of Presidential Decree No. 1183 and Section 73 of Republic Act No. 9593, also known as the “Tourism Act of 2009.” 

According to Castro, Marcos addressed the woes of the Filipinos who roam around not just to travel but to work, as some also fly for emergency purposes. 

GAA is the answer

With the proposed abolition of the travel taxes, a concern about the funding of projects from the 

Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) which gets 50% from the tax, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) which has a 40% allotment from the collection and 10% is for the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
However, Castro reiterated that the funding for the three commissions will be sourced out from the General Appropriations Act. 

“Yes, if this is abolished altogether and not just the fee is deducted, this will be addressed by the government, of course, through the GAA,” Castro explained. 

The President expects the faster pursuance of the said bill, alongside the Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act, the Independent People's Commission Act, the Party-List System Reform Act, Expanded Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act of 2026, and Fake News and Digital Disinformation. 

Aside from the mentioned bills, Marcos also wants the acceleration of passing of the following bills: National Center for Geriatric Health, Classroom Building Acceleration Program Act and the improvement of the coconut industry, highlighting that the Philippines is the second largest coconut exporter worldwide.