RP offers travel tax perk to visitors from BIMP-EAGA

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The government is offering a travel tax holiday to foreign businessmen and tourists investing in Mindanao and Palawan, a Malacañang official said here yesterday

Office of Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Secretary Jesus Dureza said the privilege will be extended to businessmen from BIMP-EAGA or the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines-East Asia Growth Area.

Dureza, who was here over the weekend after inaugurating a roll-on-roll-off port in Tawi-Tawi, said the government will not collect travel tax within two years from businessmen and tourists coming from the mentioned areas.

He said President Arroyo initiated the program to attract foreigners into investing in the country. Dureza said the tax holiday is in support of President Arroyo’s economic and tourism program for Mindanao and Palawan.

He said the government used to collect P1,620 from each tourist and businessman. "The tourists and businessmen will be free in coming in and out of the country."

Dureza said the new policy is aimed at encouraging foreign investors and even tourists to infuse capital in southern Philippines owning to its huge potentials.

He said that travel records show that a huge number of people are traveling in the south citing the proximity to trade in Western Mindanao and the neighboring island provinces.

"The new policy will encourage people to go across borders specifically here in Mindanao like Zamboanga City," Dureza added.