Senator Raffy Tulfo is aiming to file a bill on the removal of travel tax for economy class passengers traveling abroad this week.

In a press release on Monday, the senator argued that imposing additional costs to economy-class passengers is a violation of their constitutional right to travel. He added how economy class passengers usually travel on a budget, using funds from the money they saved up for a long time.

Tulfo cited that under Article III, Section 6 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the Filipino people’s right to travel shall not be impaired unless in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health, as may be provided by law.

Through the mentioned section in Article III, Tulfo seeks to repeal the Presidential Decree 1183 issued in 1997. In PD 1183, the only ones exempt from paying the travel tax are Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), infants, and government officials and corporations on official travel.