Freedom of movement should not be a taxable right

The travel tax is a substantial burden, particularly for ordinary Filipinos.

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That is how House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos describes the current levy on traveling Filipinos. Just imagine a travel tax of P2,700 for first-class passage and P1,620 for economy? This is an anachronism that places a financial barrier on a constitutionally protected right to travel. For a family of four, the tax can amount to P6,480—an amount that, for many households, represents a significant portion of monthly disposable income.

In a country where overseas travel is often undertaken not for leisure but for employment, education, family reunification, or medical necessity, the travel tax functions less as a neutral fee and more as a penalty on mobility. In effect, it taxes ambition, opportunity, and economic participation beyond the country’s borders.