Palace Speaks on 21 Marcos Jr. Priority Bills
MARCOS JR.
– The President has included the travel tax abolition proposed by his son, Ilocos Norte Congressman and House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, as one of his priority bills.
Photo: Viyahe
The travel tax in the Philippines is paid before departure. Under the current scheme, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) collects P2,700 each from passengers in the first class seats as travel tax. Those who are in the economy seats must pay P1,620 each as travel tax.
Government workers who are flying abroad for an official purpose as well as overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and infants who are below 2 years old are exempted from the travel tax. Discounts also apply to some sectors. However, for countless Filipinos who are not covered by these exemptions and discounts, the travel tax is a huge deduction from the travel fund that could supposedly be used for other things.
Photo Credit: Travel Insurance Philippines
Recently, recognizing the struggle on the part of many Filipinos, presidential son and Ilocos Norte Cong.
Sandro Marcos filed a House Bill No. 7443 seeking the immediate abolition of the travel tax
. He believes that the said fee has outlived its purpose.
“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,”
the House Majority Leader said.
Furthermore, Ilocos Norte Cong. Sandro Marcos also expressed his belief that removing the imposition of travel tax can boost the mobility, economic, and tourism recovery of the Philippines. According to the presidential Son, traveling is not simply a luxury for many Filipinos but a way to reconnect with their families and sustain their source of income.
📸: Abante
Recently, Malacañang announced that the abolishing of the travel tax is one of the priority bills of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Based on a report on Inquirer, there are 21 proposed measures that the President has approved.
“Kanina ang napagusapan lang nila kung ano ang maitutulong nito sa ekonomiya… Nakita ng Pangulo na mas makakagaang ito sa mga turista sa mga nagbibiyahe… Batid ng Pangulo na ang nagbyabyahe hindi lang para sa mamasyal pero para sa trabaho at negosyo,”
Palace press officer undersecretary Claire Castro said.
Based on the
report
, aside from the immediate removal of the travel tax, also one of the proposed measures that Marcos Jr. wants prioritized is the anti-dynasty bill.
“The President also prioritized getting an update on the proposed antipolitical dynasty measure as this is something both the President and the public want enacted as soon as possible,”
Castro expressed.
It was in December when Ilocos Norte Congressman and House Majority Leader
Sandro Marcos and House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy filed a bill that proposed an end to political dynasty