Angara pushes 20% discount for students on all modes of transportation
Published Apr 15, 2018 11:33 am
By Hannah Torregoza
Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara today renewed his call for Congress to pass the measure institutionalizing a 20-percent all-year-round discount for students on land, rail, airfare and ship fare.
Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara
(Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN) Angara noted that currently students get 20-percent discount on all modes of transportation based on a memorandum circular issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). The senator said it is imperative that Congress passes the measure to ensure its continuity as the proposed all-year discount would make summer break more enjoyable and economical for over 20-million public and private students and their families particularly those who work hard and consider travel as a necessity rather than a luxury. He said savings from the fare discount could be used by students and their families for other expenses, such as tuition and school supplies. “Hindi na dapat kailangang maghintay ng mga estudyante ng mga promo fare. Nararapat lamang na bigyan sila ng regular discount sa pamasahe sa eroplano at barko para makatipid sa pagbalik nila sa probinsya at pagbabakasyon (It’s only fair for our students not to wait for promo fares. It’s only fitting that we give them regular-fare discount in airplanes and ships so they can save enough money whenever they go back to their respective provinces and for vacation),” Angara said. Angara is referring to Senate Bill 1597, which has already been reported out by the Senate committee on education, arts and culture under Committee Report 166 and is still pending second reading. The bill also seeks to expand the coverage of the 20-percent discount to include weekends and holidays. “This is especially more significant to the indigent and underprivileged sector that rely on public transport services,” said Angara, one of the senators who authored and pushed for the free college law. Under the bill, all students enrolled in basic and tertiary educational institutions, including technical-vocational (tech-voc) schools, will be entitled to a 20-percent discount on regular domestic travel fares—including jeepneys, buses, UV Express vans, taxis and transport network vehicle services Grab and Uber, MRT, LRT, domestic flights—upon presentation of their duly issued school ID or current validated enrollment forms. Exempted from the discount are students taking up post-graduate studies such as medicine, law, masteral and doctoral degrees, and other short-term courses. The measure also exempts Filipino students who will travel abroad for education, training and competition from the payment of travel tax upon proper showing of proof or documentation of intended purpose. Likewise, the bill forbids the availment of double discounts or combination of the student fare discount with other discount programs. Once passed into law, transportation utilities that refuse to grant student discount would be penalized with a fine ranging from P5,000 to P200,000.
Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara(Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN) Angara noted that currently students get 20-percent discount on all modes of transportation based on a memorandum circular issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). The senator said it is imperative that Congress passes the measure to ensure its continuity as the proposed all-year discount would make summer break more enjoyable and economical for over 20-million public and private students and their families particularly those who work hard and consider travel as a necessity rather than a luxury. He said savings from the fare discount could be used by students and their families for other expenses, such as tuition and school supplies. “Hindi na dapat kailangang maghintay ng mga estudyante ng mga promo fare. Nararapat lamang na bigyan sila ng regular discount sa pamasahe sa eroplano at barko para makatipid sa pagbalik nila sa probinsya at pagbabakasyon (It’s only fair for our students not to wait for promo fares. It’s only fitting that we give them regular-fare discount in airplanes and ships so they can save enough money whenever they go back to their respective provinces and for vacation),” Angara said. Angara is referring to Senate Bill 1597, which has already been reported out by the Senate committee on education, arts and culture under Committee Report 166 and is still pending second reading. The bill also seeks to expand the coverage of the 20-percent discount to include weekends and holidays. “This is especially more significant to the indigent and underprivileged sector that rely on public transport services,” said Angara, one of the senators who authored and pushed for the free college law. Under the bill, all students enrolled in basic and tertiary educational institutions, including technical-vocational (tech-voc) schools, will be entitled to a 20-percent discount on regular domestic travel fares—including jeepneys, buses, UV Express vans, taxis and transport network vehicle services Grab and Uber, MRT, LRT, domestic flights—upon presentation of their duly issued school ID or current validated enrollment forms. Exempted from the discount are students taking up post-graduate studies such as medicine, law, masteral and doctoral degrees, and other short-term courses. The measure also exempts Filipino students who will travel abroad for education, training and competition from the payment of travel tax upon proper showing of proof or documentation of intended purpose. Likewise, the bill forbids the availment of double discounts or combination of the student fare discount with other discount programs. Once passed into law, transportation utilities that refuse to grant student discount would be penalized with a fine ranging from P5,000 to P200,000.