President Duterte has signed into law the measure granting a 20 percent discount to students in all public forms of public transportation in the country.
Under Republic Act No. 11314, or the Student Fare Discount Act, signed last April 17, the government is now required to establish a mechanism that ensures the mandatory grant of a student fare discount privilege.
The law is also aimed to encourage students, particularly the poor and underprivileged, to pursue their education and “make them responsible citizens.”
The law covers all public transportation utilities such as public buses, jeepneys, taxis, tricycles, passenger trains, aircraft, and marine vessels.
The law, however, does not cover school service, shuttle service, tourist service, and similar service covered by an agreement with valid franchise or permit from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
The 20 percent discount granted to students will be available during the entire period while the student is enrolled, including weekends and holidays.
A student shall be entitled the 20 percent discount upon presentation of their school ID or current validated enrollment form, supported by a government-issued ID.
A student, meanwhile, can file their complaint with the LTFRB if a land public transportation refuses to give them discount. Students can lodge their complaints with the office of the local chief executive for tricycles.
Students can also file their complaint with the Maritime Industry Authority and the Civil Aeronautics Board for public marine vessels and aircraft.
They can also go to the Department of Transportation for complaints on the Manila Light Rail Transit System, Metro Rail Transit, and the Philippine National Railways.
Any person who avails or tries to avail himself of the discount using fake IDs or documents will be denied of the privileges and may be subject to civil and penal liabilities prescribed by law. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)
