A bill seeking to exempt students, senior citizens, and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from paying the travel tax imposed on outbound flight passengers has been filed in the House of Representatives.
The measure, authored by 1Tahanan Party-list Representative Nathan Oducado, aims to ease the financial burden of air travel on vulnerable and lower-income sectors.
“Currently set at ₱2,700 for first-class passengers and ₱1,620 for economy-class passengers, the tax affects millions of outbound travellers annually,” said Oducado. “But this tax disproportionately affects more vulnerable and lower-income sectors of society.”
House Bill 6979 also seeks to extend travel tax exemptions to single parents, indigenous peoples, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), expanding the existing exemptions under Executive Order No. 283 issued in 1987.
“For members of these sectors, the travel tax represents a substantial additional cost that restricts mobility, limits family reunification, and hampers access to overseas opportunities,” Oducado said.
“By expanding exemptions to vulnerable sectors, this bill seeks to ensure that the travel tax system is more equitable, sensitive to socioeconomic disparities, and aligned with the principle of progressive taxation,” he added.
Apart from the proposed travel tax exemptions, Oducado and other lawmakers have also pushed for House Resolution 596, which calls for an investigation into the increase in flight delays, cancellations, and diversions, particularly during the holiday season.
“These initiatives are consistent with our continuing commitment to ease the burden of travel for those least able to afford it,” the party-list representative said.