ANGARA TO TRANSPORT OPERATORS: GIVE STUDENT DISCOUNT
ON ALL DAYS

As a new semester opens and students are even more burdened with expenses especially after the typhoons that hit Metro Manila and Central and Northern Luzon, Sen. Edgardo J. Angara is again reminding the transport operators to grant student discounts on their fare. Likewise, he urged the Senate to enact student fare discount into law on any public transportation not only on school days, but also on weekends, holidays and vacations.

"We have seen the difficulty that parents are facing to defray household expenses. Basic commodity prices are rising, especially with the current financial crisis and the aftermath of the typhoons combined. This is the least we can do to help our students keep their spirit of going to school and pursuing their education," noted Angara, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance.

The bill seeks to give students of all levels a 20% discount as a measure of assisting families in the transportation expenses relative to the rising cost of education in the country. Medical interns, legal apprentices, military trainees and specialized studies students are also covered.

"Extending the provision for discount to non-school days will enable students to still travel at a discounted fare back to their communities, to visit their parents in the provinces for the weekend, do research works and consultation with their instructors or meet with their peers for group studies," Angara stressed. As former President of the University of the Philippines, Angara has been a staunch advocate of education, child development and social services.

The grant of discount to students is currently only mandated on a memorandum circular of the LTFRB. When this bill is passed into law, there will be no more reason for drivers, conductors and ticket agents to refuse students discounts to their fares at any day.

Angara concluded, "This should become a social responsibility for transport utility owners and operators, especially for the students who are now still battling to recover from the trauma of the recent typhoons."