Travel tax scrapping backed

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The Cebu Provincial Board and the city councils of Cebu, Mandaue and Toledo yesterday passed separate resolutions during their regular sessions calling to abolish travel taxes being collected among departing Filipino passengers at the international seaports and airports in the country.

Tabogon Councilor and Provincial Board member Francis Salimbangon, the President of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL), sponsored the resolution in support of House Bill 3874 filed by Cebu 3rd District Representative Pablo John Garcia to abolish travel tax as it has become burdensome to the Filipino travelers.

Mandaue City Councilor Joel Seno cited reasons that taxes have already been imposed on income tax, airline tickets and terminal fees, which additionally burdens the public.

Toledo City Councilor Nick Pepito echoed Salimbangon’s sentiments and sponsored abolition resolution yesterday during the regular session.

For Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera, who sponsored a resolution in support of Senate Bill (SB) 384 filed by Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao which seeks to abolish travel taxes collections this imposition not only made our overseas Filipino workers paying additional taxes but the Filipino travelers in general.

Pacquiao filed SB 384 last 11 July, while HB 3874 filed by Garcia was last 13 August.