By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has approved 21 priority measures under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), including the proposed abolition of the travel tax amid tourism woes in the country.
During the 3rd LEDAC Full Meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday, the President called on Congress to accelerate the passage of the bill to boost the tourism sector and ease travel costs.
“Priority bill ng Pangulo ang travel tax abolition upang matulungang maiangat ang turismo ng bansa. Batid din ng Pangulo na ang mga nagbibiyahe na ating mga kababayan ay hindi lang para mamasyal, kundi ang iba ay para sa trabaho at ang iba naman ay para sa emergency cases din,” Palace Press Officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing.
Castro also assured the public that programs and projects funded through allocations from the travel tax will not be affected if it is fully abolished and not reduced, as the government would provide the budget through the General Appropriations Act.
Currently, Castro said that 50% of the travel tax goes to tourism infrastructure projects, 40% to educational assistance and scholarships, and 10% to promote culture and heritage.
Details on the impact of the proposed travel tax abolition to the economy have yet to be discussed, Castro noted, as the bill is still being crafted.
Other legislative measures identified by the President and the LEDAC as priority bills are the following:
- Expanded Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Anti-Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials Act of 2026
- Anti-Fake News and Digital Disinformation
- Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Elections
- Amendments to the Bank Deposits Secrecy Law/ Banking Reform for Integrity, Good Governance, Honesty, and Transparency (BRIGHT) Act
- Right to Information Act
- Amendments to the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act
- Amendments to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act
- Amendments to the Masustansyang Pagkain Para Sa Batang Pilipino Act
- Amendments to the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) Act
- Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act
- National Center for Geriatric Health.
- Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Bill/Waste Treatment Technology Act
- Amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA)-Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Strengthening Bill
- Amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law/Rice Industry and Consumer Empowerment (RICE) Act
- Department of Water Resources
- Estate Tax Amnesty
On concerns that any measure seeking to combat fake news may lead to a crackdown on dissent, Malacañang emphasized that the President urged Congress to properly define fake news and disinformation.
“Hindi po hahayaan ng Pangulo na masagasaan ang anumang freedom of expression, freedom of speech ng ating mga kababayan,” Castro said.
Regarding updates on proposed anti-political dynasty law, Castro said that Sen. Risa Hontiveros reported that the Senate has already begun public consultations on the measure, while House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III assured that the House of Representatives would also conduct nationwide consultations.
The President likewise reiterated support for the passage of the Citizen Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act, the Independent People’s Commission Act, and the Party-list System Reform Act.
“Sa kabuuan, natuwa at kuntento naman ang Pangulo sa mga priority bills na inaasahang maipasa bago mag-Hunyo ngayong taon,” Castro said.
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