Travel tax waived at Mindanao, Palawan ports for 3 Asean countries

INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the exemption of travel tax for passengers departing from international airports and seaports in Mindanao and Palawan heading to areas within the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

According to Marcos in issuing Memorandum Order No. 29, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on August 6, this is to “further sustain and accelerate economic development in Mindanao and Palawan.”

READ: Duterte: Travel tax exemption stays

The tax exemption will last until June 30, 2028, unless sooner revoked.

“For reasons of national interest, in order to further sustain and accelerate economic development in Mindanao and Palawan, and as recommended by the House of Representatives pursuant to House Resolution No. 61 dated 21 March 2023, all travelers by air and or sea departing from all international airports and/or seaports in Mindanao and Palawan, and who are bound for any destination in the BIMP-EAGA are hereby exempt from payment of Travel Tax,” said Marcos in the order.

The same exemption will also apply to passengers with confirmed connecting flights from Mindanao and Palawan to BIMP-EAGA within 24 hours on the same day—when no direct flights are available from the passenger’s point of origin in Mindanao and Palawan.

According to the order, a Travel Tax Exemption Certificate may be secured from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority.

Presidential Decree No. 1183, as amended, authorizes the President to exempt certain individuals from payment of travel tax for reasons of national interest.