Filipino Travelers, You Could Soon Keep That ₱1,620 Travel Tax

Planning to head out of the country? You might want to keep an eye on this. Filipino travelers could soon save the additional ₱1,620 travel tax they usually have to pay prior to even boarding the plane.

The Senate is planning to abolish the Philippine travel tax before the end of 2026, following the House of Representatives’ approval of House Bill No. 8464 last March. Under that bill, no government agency or private entity should be allowed to collect the travel tax once the law is implemented.

“We will abolish [the] travel tax,” Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said in a forum on August 20. “Removing this additional cost reduces friction in international mobility.”

Following the House’s go signal on the bill, the Senate has also set a clearer timeline for the proposed abolition, with the goal of getting it done soon. Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Kiko Pangilinan, Mark Villar, and Erwin Tulfo have expressed their support for the move.

So, what does this mean for your next international trip? If the proposal pushes through and takes effect, that ₱1,620 could stay in your pocket instead of going toward the travel tax.

For now, though, don’t forget to factor the amount into your budget. And if you’re already dreaming about your next trip, just think of all the things you could spend that extra ₱1,620 on instead.

Words by Geora Laine Mercene