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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Walang gulangan': LTFRB summons bus operator for not observing fare discount system under service contracting program

'Walang gulangan': LTFRB summons bus operator for not observing fare discount system under service contracting program

Published Apr 30, 2026 09:13 am

At A Glance

  • Under the rules and regulations, buses and other PUVs under the program must provide a 20 percent discount to regular passengers.
  • A total of 40 percent discount should also be given to students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) urged commuters using public utility vehicles (PUVs) under the government’s service contracting program to fight for their right to reduced fare following reports that the discount system is not being followed.
On Thursday, April 30, LTFRB Chairman Vigor D. Mendoza II said they summoned the operator, driver and conductor of a bus under the service contracting program after a netizen complained that the discount system is not being observed.  
Under the rules and regulations of the program, passenger buses and other public utility vehicles (PUVs) must provide a 20 percent discount to regular passengers and a total of 40 percent discount to students, senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
“This is not how the program works and there is no excuse for failure to provide the necessary discount to all passengers,” said Mendoza.
For Mendoza, passengers are not supposed to remind the bus conductors or drivers that they have the right for 20 percent discount as regular passengers and 40 percent for  students, senior citizens and PWDs.
He said it is the obligation of the driver and conductor to automatically deduct it since the national government has already subsidized the discount rate.
“We will deal with this and assure all our kababayan, especially those who are availing public utility vehicles under service contracting. We will fight for your right by running after those who would dare ignore the provisions of this program,” he added.
Based on the complaint, the bus conductor did not issue a ticket, did not provide the discount and did not even bother to give the change.
Mendoza said they already issued a show cause order (SCO) against the operator, the driver and the bus conductor and set the hearing on May 11.
In the SCO, the bus operator was asked to explain in writing why its franchise should not be suspended or cancelled for failing to follow the rules and regulations on service contracting program. 
“Failure on the part of the respondent to appear before the Hearing Officer and file an answer, shall be considered a s a waiver on its part to be heard and shall cause the imposition of a penalty in the amount of P5,000,” the SCO read.
Mendoza vowed to continuously monitor the implementation of the program .
But he emphasized the need for the passengers to cooperate by informing the LTFRB of cases of abuses and non-compliance of the rules on service contracting program

Related Tags

LTFRB show cause order service contracting program
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