SENIOR BYAHERO

It’s more fun in the Philippines. Especially if you’re a senior citizen who loves traveling by public transportation. Under Republic Act No. 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, senior citizens which the law defines as any resident citizens of the Philippines at least 60 years old are entitled to privileges such as in the grant of 20 percent and exemption from the value-added tax (VAT), if applicable, in the actual fare for land transportation travel, and in actual transportation fare for domestic air transport services and sea shipping vessels and the like, based on the actual fare and advanced booking.

Senior citizens also get express lane privileges on private, banking, commercial, and government establishments.

I have been travelling as a senior citizen using public transportation for almost two years and I would say that the privileges under the law are usually granted. Well, most of the time anyway.

Senior discounts on train.

If you’re doing land transportation using government-owned facilities like PNR, LRT and MRT, the 20 percent discounts are automatically given as long you show your Senior Citizen card or any acceptable valid IDs. The discounted fares are usually clearly posted on the ticket counters, and most of the time, there are special ticket counters for senior citizens and PWDs. Senior citizens, together with PWDs, pregnant women and those traveling with children, are given exclusive access to the front car of the train.

The privileges on public jeepneys and buses are highly dependent on drivers and conductors. Take the discounts given by jeepney drivers for instance, the rates vary from driver to driver. The same is true for bus conductors, the rates for the same route vary depending on bus companies. The designated seats for seniors and PWDs, which are the last seats for the jeepneys and the first-row seats for the buses, are not always made available, especially during rush hours. I once encountered a jeepney driver complaining about discounts. He said that it should be the government subsidizing the discounts, not them.

Convenience of commuting in the Philippines.

For domestic air and sea travels, discounts are automatically given, even when booking online. Senior Citizen ID number must be inputted during online booking and validated during check-in to get discounts. Discounts are given on regular fares, and for promo fares, senior citizen can avail of the establishment’s offered discount or 20 percent discount on regular fare, whichever is higher or more favorable. Discounts are only on fares, and not on any charges such as fuel surcharge and web administration fee, which are often higher than promo fares. When boarding an aircraft or a sea vessel, senior citizens get priority boarding. In my last sea travel using a Fast Cat ferry, senior citizens and PWDs have a special room accessible from the car deck so that they need not climb up the narrow stairs to passenger deck.

The Department of Transportation and LTFRB also require ride-hailing services like Grab to provide the mandatory 20 percent discount to their senior customers. I think the discount also extend to motorcycle services like Angkas. I haven’t tried asking for discounts from both so I cannot talk about the experience.

Aside from ensuring that these privileges are granted, the government also need to work on improving accessibility for senior citizens and PWDs. Going to MRT/LRT stations like EDSA-Taft, Guadalupe and Ortigas is quite a challenge. Seniors who are using EDSA Carousel Bus System going to Shaw or Cubao must be ready to climb and take a long walk. Airports and seaports are also not easy to access because most of them are located outside the mass transport routes. In my experience, you must negotiate with taxi drivers to take you there, and you better not ask for discounts.

Despite some areas that still need improvement, traveling around the Philippines using public transportation as a senior citizen is still better than driving your own car, where the only privileges are free parking on some malls and designated parking spaces. You also do not get discounts on fuel and toll fees and you need to drive on traffic areas like everyone else, compared to commuting that allows you to relax on your seat and watch the views along the way. Travel cost is cheaper, plus the additional discounts on accommodations, food, entry fees to resorts, museums, leisure parks and the like, making going out and traveling on public transport more fun if you are a 60 and above in the Philippines.

(The author recently retired as an engineer in an auto manufacturing company. He was a regular contributor to MB's Cruising Magazine. His taste for adventure has not kept him from travelling, usually via not-so-usual routes.)