CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising in Central Visayas (LTFRB-7) is reminding public utility vehicles that students and persons with disabilities (PWDs) are still entitled to 20-percent fare discount.
LTFRB-7 Director Eduardo Montealto, Jr., said that even though only a few of the students are traveling, the privilege still stays despite it not being stated in the Interagency Task Force (IATF) guidelines.
“Ang PWDs ug PWD ug mga estudyante still has the privilege of 20-percent discount. Wala lang na gibutang sa IATF guidelines kay carried naman to ang sa una,” said Montealto.
The director said the current guidelines on PUV fares does not supersede the privileges set upon for the students, senior citizens, PWDs, including pregnant women, in the past.
The practice may only have been forgotten during the pandemic because most students, especially the underaged, are at home and rarely travel.
LTFRB-7 also noted that many passengers would forego their discounts because of the limited capacities of the PUVs. This prompts them to choose to pay the regular fare to help PUV drivers cope amid the pandemic.
However, Montealto pointed out that for automatic fare systems, PWDs can apply for a PWD discount so that every time they tap, the fare is automatically reduced minus the discount.
“Kon PWD, pwede gyod mo maningil sa discount. In fact, diri sa atong mga automatic fare collection system, naay card para sa PWD. Kato inyong gamiton, automatic nato nga modiscount,” he said.
The director urged the PWDs and students to ask for the discounts because it is their privilege. He also urged PUV operators to grant this discount.
/bmjo