Expanded student fare discount bill advances

As expected, the House Committee on Transportation approved yesterday a substitute bill seeking to institutionalise a mandatory 20-percent student fare discount in public transportation even during weekends and holidays.

The House panel, chaired by Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento unanimously passed the still unnumbered measure, a consolidation of nine measures that hurdled the Technical Working Group (TWG) level last Monday.

Under the proposed Student Fare Discount Act, the fare discount may be availed of during the entire period while the student is enrolled, including weekends and holidays.

In a case where a promotional fare, as approved by the concerned regulatory agency, is granted by a public transportation utility operator, the student shall have the option to choose between the promotional fare and the regular fare less the discount as provided under the proposed Act.

Sarmiento said passing the measure is timely in the wake of rising prices of goods and the increasing cost of living.

"We can lessen their burdens by lessening the amount they are paying for their daily commute,” he said.

Under the bill, a student shall be entitled to a 20-percent discount on the regular domestic fares of all kinds of public transportation utilities upon the presentation of a duly issued and validated school identification (ID) card or current validated enrolment for, supported by any document to properly establish identity.

Students enrolled in postgraduate degree courses and informal shortterm courses are not covered by the proposed Act.