LTFRB told: Remind transport operators about student discount

Part of the 117 modern public utility jeepneys that were launched by LTFRB-7 on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. | CDN Digital File Photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A resolution reminding the transport operators on the student discounts has been proposed.

Councilor Rey Gealon called for the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to remind and inform the transport operators of the availability of student discounts, as provided under the Student Fare Discount Act.

Gealon said in his proposed resolution that this was to ensure that students would be able to enjoy their discount in their daily commute.

Gealon’s proposal came after he learned that there were reports of students who were not granted their student discount.

“And one of the reports was a student being scolded and yelled at by the bus conductor just because he (the student) asked for a student discount on a Sunday,” Gealon said.

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Student Fare Discount Act

Under the Student Fare Discount Act or Section 5 of the Republic Act 11314, a student is entitled to a grant of 20% discount on domestic regular fares, upon personal presentation of their duly issued school identification cards (IDs) or current validated enrollment form.

Moreover, the said Act covers public utility buses and jeepneys, taxis, other similar vehicles-for-hire, tricycles, passenger trains, aircrafts and marine vessels.

It does not cover school service, shuttle service, tourist service, and any similar service covered by contract or charter agreement and with valid franchise or permit from the LTFRB.

And according to Section 4 of the Act, the fare discount is available during “the entire period while the student is enrolled, including weekends and holidays.”

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Do not disregard the law

Gealon told CDN Digital that the public empathize with the plight of public transport operators amidst the “skyrocketing prices of diesel and other petroleum products” which in turn deprived them of higher earnings or comfortable livelihood.

However, he said that the public could not disregard the law-mandated student fare discount.

“Many have complained in our office that they were denied such benefit for that reason. And we cannot just sit idly [by] and disregard these legitimate concerns, so we filed this resolution in the hope that the enforcement division of LTFRB can monitor, apprehend and sanction violators,” Gealon said.

He said that in balancing both their interests under the circumstances, he believed that “the interest of the students will prevail based on law and logic.”