Manila, March 9 -- A bill seeking to abolish the long-standing travel tax moved a step closer to plenary consideration after the House Committee on Ways and Means on Monday approved the unnumbered substitute measure consolidating several proposals to scrap the levy.

During a hearing presided over by Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo, House Deputy Majority Leader Ernesto "Ernix" Dionisio of Manila moved for the approval of the substitute bill, filed by lawmakers led by House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander "Sandro" Marcos of Ilocos Norte.

"I would like to move now that we approve subject to style sections 2 and 3 of the unnumbered substitute bill of House Bill Nos. 7443, 7367, 7612, 7703, 7757, 150, 3529, 3890, 4793, 5821, 6228, 6979, 7155, ...