Students planning to travel during the Holy Week should still avail of the 20 percent discount on transport fare, Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said on Wednesday, March 27.

According to Angara, the 20 percent discount on regular fares still applies regardless of what mode of transport they would be taking, as provided for under Republic Act (RA) No. 11314 or the Student Fare Discount Act.

“Sa lahat ng estudyante, siguraduhin ninyo na may dala kayo na student ID bago kayo magbayad ng ticket sa eroplano, barko, bus o tren. Tuloy-tuloy ang 20 percent na discount sa inyo kahit holiday (To all students, make sure that you bring your student ID with you before you pay for air fare, ship, bus or train fare. The 20 percent discount continues even during holidays),” said Angara, author and sponsor of the law. 

Under the law, an enrolled student can avail of the discount during the entire period, including weekends and holidays. 

Also accepted as identification for students are their validated enrollment forms, in case they do not have their school IDs for one reason or another.

“Siguraduhin niyo lang na may dala kayo na kahit anong government ID pag enrollment form lang ang dala niyo para lang masiguro ang identity niyo sa pagbigay ng discount (Just make sure that you have any kind of government ID with you if you do not have your enrollment form just to verify your identity),” Angara said.

Angara also warned transport owners and operators they could face stringent penalties should they fail to honor student fare discount law.

Drivers of land public transportation utilities may face a suspension of their driver’s licenses for one month for the first offense; two months for the second offense; three months for the third offense; and three months plus a fine of  ₱1,000 for each subsequent offense, under the law.

Also under the law, owners or operators of sea/water public transportation utilities may face a fine of ₱5,000 for the first offense; ₱10,000 for the second offense; ₱20,000 for the third offense; and additional increments of ₱10,000 on top of the fine for the third offense for each subsequent offense.

On the other hand, operators of air public transportation utilities may face a fine of ₱50,000 for the first offense; ₱100,000 and a warning for the second offense; and ₱150,000 plus other sanctions as may be determined by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) for the third and subsequent offenses.

In the case of rail public transportation utilities, the senator reminded failure to comply with the existing rules may result in sanctions or fines under the existing civil service rules. 

For privately-operated rail public transportation utilities, they face the same amount of penalties subjected for sea/water public transportation utilities.

“Kaya pinapaalala natin sa lahat ng mga driver, operator o may-ari ng mga pampasaherong sasakyan, pati na din ng kanilang mga empleyado, na sundin ang batas at ibigay ang 20 percent na discount para sa mga estudyante ngayong Holy Week at pati na din sa mga darating na holiday sa taong ito (That’s why we remind all drivers, operators, owners of public transportation, including their employees, to comply with the law and provide the 20 percent discount to students this Holy Week and in the upcoming holidays for this year),” Angara said.