BETTER DAYS
By SENATOR SONNY ANGARA
Senator Sonny Angara
Over 30 million students will benefit from the recently enacted Republic Act 11314, the Student Fare Discount Act, which we authored. They will all be granted a year-long 20 percent fare discount on land, sea, and air transport.
All that’s left to do is for the measure to be published in a major broadsheet or the Official Gazette, and for the appropriate agencies—namely the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), and the Department of Transportation (DOTr)—to issue the implementing rules and regulations.
The law’s enactment stands alongside other efforts to keep transport fares affordable and help our students save their daily allowance, such as the recent announcement of free MRT rides for them on certain hours.
Despite these developments, however, a public transportation network that is safe, accessible, and affordable remains beyond reach for many Filipinos—more so for the many students who commute to school.
An observer was spot-on when she described how commuting in Manila and similar urban areas, has devolved into a “tradeoff,” where passengers are forced to choose between spending a sizeable amount to immediately catch a ride or waiting additional hours in queue for more affordable transportation. No student should have to make such decisions.
The daily commute in our major urban areas can often be long and taxing, taking a particularly physical and mental toll on our university students. Instead of being stuck in traffic, they should be at school learning, engaging in their co-curricular activities, or at home resting and spending time with their families.
According to the “student involvement theory” of UCLA Professor Alexander Astin, time spent commuting is valuable time taken away from peer involvement and faculty consultation, which are among many activities crucial to improving a student’s academic performance and developing leadership and critical thinking skills.
The Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research and Planning summed that the “commuter student”—one who has to travel far distances to get to school—is often disengaged. Their National Survey of Student Engagement argues that students who are spatially distant from their learning institution are less likely to maximize the resources being offered to them. In this sense then, the question of student transportation really becomes a question of equity and equal opportunity.
Some US cities have introduced simple yet intuitive solutions to address these concerns on student mobility and transportation. For instance, Denver’s Success Express program, which started in 2011, involved setting up additional school bus schedules and providing students more equitable transportation options, regardless of the school they go to. Another example is the Detroit Youth Transit Alliance initiative where students are provided free bus rides to their extracurricular activities. Then there is Washington, DC's, One Card which primarily serves to pay transportation fares, but doubles as a library card and as an access pass to the city’s recreational programs.
Asian cities commonly feature concessionary fees that significantly cost less than the regular adult fare. For example, Singaporean and Hong Kong students enjoy discounted monthly passes that provide unlimited rides on buses and trains, which varies depending on their current education level. Some British universities have responded to their commuter student needs by decreasing early morning and late afternoon classes to allow ample time for travel.
One initiative that we can do throughout the country is for local government units to establish 24-7 public libraries similar to the example set by Cebu City, Quezon City, and Makati. These facilities can accommodate students who intend to study beyond regular library hours, and may also serve as a halfway house between the school and their home.
As the Duterte administration aggressively pursues its infrastructure agenda, it must also seriously consider the welfare of commuting students. Ultimately, safe and affordable transportation options should be part and parcel of an accessible education system.
Email: [email protected]| Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @sonnyangara
Senator Sonny Angara has been in public service for 15 years—9 years as representative of the Lone District of Aurora, and six as senator. He has authored and sponsored more than 200 laws. He recently won another term in the Senate.