Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco has reminded public utility vehicle (PUV) operators and drivers, including transport network vehicle service (TNVS) providers, to honor the 20 percent student fare discount, saying that refusal to do so is a violation of the law.

With the recent opening of the school year, Tiangco underscored that the 20 percent student discount on public transportation was not optional and thus must be granted to all students.

Karapatan po yan na hindi dapat ipinagkakait sa ating mga mag-aaral (That is a right that should not be denied to our learners), he said.

As such, Tiangco urged students to report violators to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) hotline or through the LTFRB Citizen’s Complaint Center..

Violators of Republic Act (RA) No. 11314 or the Student Fare Discount Act may be fined up to P5,000 for first-time violators, while repeat offenders may face suspension or revocation of their franchises or permits, depending on the severity and frequency of the offense.

Tiangco also welcomed the 50 percent discount for students on all train rides, which he said is a welcome gift for students to start the school year.

Isa din itong malinaw na mensahe mula kay President Bongbong Marcos na gagawin ng pamahalaan ang lahat ng hakbang para tulungan ang mga mag-aaral para maibsan ang kanilang mga pangangailangan (This is a clear message from President Marcos that the government will pursue all measures that will lessen the burden of our students), he said.

Your government is here and we are doing everything in our power to minimize the financial burden of Filipino students so they can put all their focus on studying, he added.