My wife recently returned from a fortnight jaunt to Cebu, to visit family and attend the Sinulog Festival. On departure day everything went smoothly, so smooth that she didn't have to pay the Airport Travel tax, which left her kind of baffled. Strange, as we always got charged on previous flights,,,, She did mention it to me, and I sort of pushed in one corner of my mind, thinking of it, at first, as irrelevant. Lucky break, kind of thing,,, But on reflection, days later it became clear to me that it was an important point, as she kept going on an on about it. So, this morning I went looking for a possible explanation and found it... Not knowing how long this has been in force, I am left wondering is she has been charged erroneously in the past. As the payment were only accepted in cash, it doesn't seem to leave a paper trail to investigate further on the subject. Anybody with an opinion on this?
I asked about it in 2019 when wife left philippines on spouse visa and was told that wife had to pay as she only had vignette as opposed to BRP but when had BRP could avoid having to pay as permenant resident with less than a year in country. Confirmed that last year when leaving philippines with BRP. Daughter with both philippines and british passports also didn't need to pay.
@Br28016 When I went home last December 2023, the Airlines told me, that I need to pay my travel tax. But when I was queuing to pay for it the staff was checking my passport and Brp and said I am exempted because I don't live in the Philippines for more than a year and I am a permanent resident of another country. Although they still gave me a certificate saying I am exempted .
As I understand it you need either the exemption slip or the payment slip for the airlines. Wife and daughter queued up and wife got the exemption slip and seem to remember they just stated daughter didn't require as dual national. Sons and me were fine as we were on British passports in and out
Melody presented her passport showing she had only been in the country for a couple of weeks, her residence card for the UK ..........and was told she had to pay 1620 pesos. As usual, the Filipino brain was unable to process information and make a decision, and so erred on the side of caution and told her that she must pay. As usual, my particular Filipino was so conditioned to accept the decision, no counter-argument was forthcoming, and so she paid her 1620 pesos without challenging the decision. I've decided to maintain a dignified silence on the matter.
I thought you could have your travel tax included in the cost of your airticket now. (Oh, and it HAS been p1620 for adults, for at least the past 20 years now... so, perhaps let's be thankful for small mercies, eh. )
