Expanded student fare discount bill now for President’s signature
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Sun, 07 Apr 2019 08:52:02 +0000
Good news for public and private school students.
The enrolled copy of the bill seeking to institutionalize and expand the 20 percent student fare discount to include air and sea transport has been transmitted to Malacañang for President Duterte’s signature.
The enrolled bill was transmitted to the President on March 21.
Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation which passed the bill early last December, said the signing of the bill into law is “timely” following the rising prices of goods and the increasing cost of living.
“We can lessen the students’ burdens by lessening the amount they are paying for their daily commute,” he said.
At present, students get a 20 percent discount on land transport like jeepneys and buses under the circular issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas also sought the enactment of the measure into law, citing that it seeks to address economic concerns and the alarming rate of school drop-outs.
“This will ease the financial burden of parents and guardians. The cost of education in the country, plus students’ incidental expenses like transportation, continues to rise,” he said.
The House of Representatives passed the bill last month while the Senate approved its version of the measure in October last year.
The bill mandates a year-round 20 percent discount for students on regular domestic fares in all forms of public transportation, including land, rail, sea, and air. (Charissa L. Atienza)