Press Release
October 27, 2017

Angara lauds LTFRB's move to extend discount on weekends, holidays, breaks
SENATE COMMITTEE APPROVES BILL GRANTING 20% STUDENT FARE DISCOUNT ON DOMESTIC FLIGHTS, MRT, LRT, UBER, GRAB, TAXIS, JEEPNEYS, BUSES

The Senate committee on education has reported out a bill that seeks to expand the coverage of the 20% student fare discount to not only include land transport such as jeepneys, buses, UV Express vans, taxis and transport network vehicle services Grab and Uber, but also air, water and rail transport.

Starting tomorrow Oct. 28, the new memorandum issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), which entitles students to a 20% fare discount all year round including weekends, summer breaks and holidays, will take effect.

"We commend the LTFRB for recognizing the needs of our students. We have long been pushing for the passage of such measure. Nakapaloob din sa ating panukalang batas ang pag-extend ng student fare discount hindi lamang sa araw ng klase. Pero bukod dito, gusto natin na pati MRT, LRT at kahit airfare at boat fare ay sakop ng discount," said Senator Sonny Angara, one of the authors of Senate Bill 1597 and vice chairman of the education committee.

Under the bill, all students enrolled in basic and tertiary education institutions, including technical-vocational institutions, will be entitled to a 20% discount on regular domestic travel fares upon presentation of their duly issued school ID or current validated enrollment forms.

Students taking up post-graduate studies such as medicine, law, masteral and doctoral degrees, and other short term courses of seminar type will not be qualified to avail the discount.

Meanwhile, Filipino students who will travel abroad for education, training, and competition will be exempt from the payment of travel tax upon proper showing of proof or documentation of intended purpose.

The proposed measure prohibits the availment of double discounts or combination of the student fare discount with other discount programs.

Land, water, air and rail transportation utilities that refuse to grant student discount will be penalized with a fine ranging from P5,000 to P200,000.

"Hindi na kailangan pang maghintay ng promo fares ang mga estudyante para makatipid sa pag-uwi sa kani-kanilang mga probinsya. The family can then use the savings from the fare discount for other school fees. Layunin nating pagaanin ang gastusin ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino sa pag-aaral ng kanilang mga anak," said Angara, a known advocate of educational reforms, who is also one of the authors of the Free College Law.

Angara likewise filed a bill granting 5% discount on food, medicine, books and school supplies to all underprivileged students in the country.

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