Senator Raffy Tulfo is pushing for the removal of travel tax being imposed on Filipinos flying economy class to any part of the world.
Tulfo, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services, is set to file a bill this week which seeks to abolish travel tax for economy class passengers departing to any country abroad.
He stressed that imposing additional costs to economy class passengers is a violation of their constitutional right to travel.
These passengers, Tulfo said, are traveling on budget using funds they saved for a long time.
He cited Article III, Section 6 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution recognizing the Filipino people’s right to travel.
He noted that this right to travel shall not be impaired except in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health, as may be provided by law.
Tulfo said the basis of the government’s continued imposition of the travel tax is Presidential Decree 1183 issued in 1977, which the senator wants to be repealed.
In PD 1183, Filipinos who are exempted from paying the travel tax are OFWs, infants, and gov’t officials and corporations on official travel.
However, he noted that passengers in the first and business class will continue to pay the so-called luxury tax.
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