.. 
WALANG kahirap-hirap na inaprubahan sa ikalawang pagbasa ang panukalang batas na nagsusulong ibasura ang ipinapataw na buwis sa mga biyaherong nagnanais bumisita sa mga tourist destinations sa bansa.
Sa ilalim ng House Bill 8464 (Travel Tax Abolition of 2026) na kabilang sa mahabang talaan ng priority bills na isinusulong ng Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), partikular na isinusulong ni House Majority Leader at Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos alisin ang balakid sa pag-unlad ng turismo.
Sa binigkas na sponsorship speech, binigyan-diin ni House Committee on Tourism Chairperson at Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona, na ang paglusaw sa naturang buwis ay hindi lamang magpapababa sa gastusin sa pagbiyahe ng mga Pilipino, bagkus ito’y magpapalakas kabuhayan ng mga sektor na umaasa sa industriya ng turismo.
“The proposed abolition of travel tax is but a timely initiative that will not only reduce travel costs, but will also stimulate tourism-dependent sectors and encourage our countrymen to travel, thereby fostering economic opportunities and cultural exchange,” wika ni Madrona.
“In the span of almost two decades after its enactment, the Philippines became a signatory to the ASEAN Tourism Agreement, which sought the removal of travel tax among Member States to facilitate travel, which consequently renders the country as a regional outlier after most of the Member States have eliminated travel-related levies,” dugtong ng Romblon solon.
Ang HB 8464 ay halaw HB 7443 na akda ni Marcos. Para sa ranking House leader, hindi na akma sa kasalukuyang panahon ang pagpapataw ng dagdag na gastusin sa mga biyaherong Pilipino.
“The travel tax was created in a very different economic context. Today, it has become an added cost that restricts mobility and weighs heavily on ordinary Filipinos who simply want to travel for work, family or opportunity,” anang Ilocos Norte lawmaker.
“When travel becomes more expensive, fewer people move, fewer people spend and fewer opportunities circulate through the economy. Lowering the cost of travel allows Filipino families to allocate their money where it matters most,” dugtong ni Marcos.
Kung aalisin aniya ang P2,700 na travel tax para sa first-class passengers at P1,600 naman sa economy travelers, ang matitipid na salapi ay pandagdag sa panggastos ng pamilya ng bawat biyahero at makatutulong sa local economic activity. (ROMER R. BUTUYAN)
