A proposal to ease the cost of air travel for ordinary Filipinos is again being pushed in the Senate as airport charges continue to rise and travel experiences grow more frustrating.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo said Senate Bill 88 seeks to exempt economy class passengers from paying the travel tax while retaining the levy on business class and higher categories. He said the measure is aimed at reducing the financial burden on budget conscious travelers, arguing that passengers in higher fare classes have a greater capacity to contribute to national development.
“It cannot be denied that the ordinary Filipino traveler, particularly those who travel on economy class, bears an undue financial burden because of travel tax,” Tulfo said in a statement Tuesday, January 13. “This legislative measure seeks to exempt economy class passengers from the payment of travel tax.”
Under current rules, economy class travelers pay about P1,620 in travel tax, while first class passengers are charged around P2,700. Reduced rates apply to select groups, including dependents of overseas Filipino workers. Tulfo said his proposal does not abolish the travel tax but restructures it to make the system more equitable while maintaining funding for agencies supported by travel tax collections, including the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, the Commission on Higher Education, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
Another proposal filed in 2025 seeks to remove the travel tax entirely. Senate Bill 1529, filed by Sen. Joel Villanueva, revives a similar measure previously introduced, arguing that the levy undermines Filipinos’ constitutional right to travel. Villanueva said the current rate is a significant burden for lower income households, noting that a family of four would have to pay P6,480, funds that could otherwise be used for basic needs or reinvested in the local economy.
The renewed push for reform comes amid mounting complaints over travel costs and airport conditions. Passenger and terminal fees at major airports, including Ninoy Aquino International Airport, have increased in recent years as part of privatization and modernization efforts. Travelers have also reported congestion, long queues, and aircraft delays, adding pressure on lawmakers to revisit charges imposed on air passengers.
