STUDENT FARE DISCOUNT ENFORCEMENT ACT

By: Harold Villanueva

The students enjoy the ‘student fare discount’ on schooldays. That is, from
Mondays to Fridays. On Saturdays, if these students need to go to school again and
commute, they would have to pay the regular fare imposed by the public utility vehicle
operators. Isn’t that foolish? For 5 days in a week shall you only be considered as a
student? And on Saturdays, you’ll not be able to avail of the 20% fare discount. This is
such a foolish reality.

Other than the students, the senior citizens of the country also enjoy this 20%
discount. But the elderly of the country are more fortunate than the hardworking
students. Aside from the discount they get from the public utility vehicles, they could
also avail some discounts on recreation halls, on drugstores and some restaurants. The
elders enjoy the 20% discount every time they commute. Even on weekends and on
holidays.

The point is - the hardworking students are badly in need of these discounts to at
least save some money. College students (or even some high school students) of the
country does have Saturday classes. The LTFRB order to lift the discount on Saturdays
is definitely not good for hardworking college students, and of course to their parents.

Another point is that schooling doesn’t stop on ‘school year’ for students in
secondary and collegiate levels. Some have summer classes. And because of the
LTFRB order, they would have to bear the burden on their fares.

According to Bulatlat, the Philippine’s alternative weekly magazine: students who

have classes during weekends and those who are attending summer classes will now
have to pay the P7.50 minimum fare. This means that a student will at least spend P30
for a back-and-forth, short route during weekends. An ordinary student will now have to
shoulder a minimum of P360 in transportation expenses alone every month. Currently, a
student spends a minimum of P246.40 every month at current fare rates. Take note that
most of the students are only depending on their parents’ income. Imagine the money
they could have saved if they have the fare discount.

So be it enacted

Harold Villanueva

BBrc 3-5