New Law: Students Get 20% Discount on Public Transportation Even on Weekends and Holidays

Back in October 2017, I wrote a blog about student discounts on PUV fare.  This was around the time when students were complaining that they are not granted the 20% discount on PUV fares during weekends and holidays.  To address the issue, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) made an announcement that students must still be granted the discount privilege even when they do not have classes (weekends, holidays, days when classes are suspended).

I am glad to know that the government has taken this issue one notch higher by making it a law and now covers not just jeepneys but all types of Public Utility Vehicles!  Now, students can enjoy fare discounts on buses, taxis, tricycles, trains, airfare, passenger ships, and Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS).  These discounts are applicable any day of the week as long as the student is enrolled (which means, the students may be asked to show their valid school IDs and they should be able to show the driver this.).

The President signed Republic Act 11314 or the Student Fare Discount Act last Monday, July 15, 2019.  Below are the important details from the said law:

1. Filipino students, from elementary to college, including technical-vocational school students – will get a 20% discount on Public Utility Vehicles.
2. PUVs include land, air, and sea transportation.
3. The discount applies for the entire time they are enrolled, INCLUDING weekends and holidays.
4. For air and sea travel, the discount will only apply to domestic travel.
5. The discount covers buses, jeepneys, taxis, tricycles, LRT and MRT, airlines, passenger ships, and transport network vehicle services (TNVS) like Grab.
6. Students must be able to show their valid school ID or a validated enrollment form together with a government-issued ID.
7. The discount does not cover post-graduate students (medicine, law, masteral, doctorate) or those enrolled in short-term classes like students of dancing and driving schools and seminars.
8. If the student is traveling abroad by plane or passenger ship for education, training, or to participate in a competition, he or she will be exempted from paying travel taxes.

Penalties for drivers and operators who refuse to give student discounts:

1. Students who were refused the privilege by drivers or operators may lodge their complaints at the LTFRB (for land transportation), or at the Civil Aeronautics Board (for air transportation), and at the Maritime Industry Authority (for sea or water transportation).
2. The degrees of penalties for the three types of transportations range from:

• P5,000 for first-time offenders of land transportation
• P200,000 for the third offense by an airline.

Make sure that you, as the student, was able to prove that you are indeed a bona fide student and were able to show an ID or document to prove that you are entitled to the discount.  Always bring your ID with you, even during weekends and holidays.

Reference: www.rappler.com