Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1196

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to institutionalize student fare discount in all forms
of public transport system to balance the regular mode of public transport
vis-a-vis the developing modes of transport systems.

The State shall protect and promote the rights of all citizens to
quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make
such education accessible to all (Section 1, Article XIV, 1987 Constitution).
To this end, the State shall ensure that the students shall also equitably
benefit from the fare discounts mandated by the State.

Over the years, significant protective measures have been
undertaken by the State to shield students from the soaring cost of
education. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board
(LTFRB) through Memorandum Circular Nos. 94-001, 2003-033, 2005-
014, and 2017-024, among others, provided Twenty Percent (20%) fare
discount to students. Notably however, these circulars issued by the
LTFRB made reference only to transport systems which are within its
jurisdiction to regulate. It excluded railway transport system which is
within the realm of the Department of Transportation (DOT?) to regulate.

To maximize the application of the 20% fare discount in an
integrated transport framework, there is a need to institutionalize fare
discount to all forms of public transport system regardless of the
government agency regulating it.

Hence, this earnest request for the immediate passage of this bill.

ol/
wall! ICIAS-AGABAS



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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1196

HOUSE BILL NO.

ive MARLYN L.

PRIMICIAS-AGABAS

AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING STUDENT FARE DISCOUNT AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. -It is the policy of the State to promote
the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and to provide
incentives to ease the financial burden of the students and their parents.
Towards this end, the State shall institutionalize the grant of student

fare discount to all students at all levels.

SECTION 2. Coverage. - All students, those enrolled in any elementary,
secondary, technical and vocational or higher education institution shall
avail of the twenty percent (20%) discount from Monday to Sunday
including summer breaks, legal and special legal holidays on all land
transportation services including but not limited to: public utility buses
(PUBs) including Point-to-Point buses, public utility jeepneys (PUJs),
taxis, UV expresses, transport network vehicle services (TNVs); and rail
transit system such as metro rail transit (MRT), light rail transits (LRTs)

and other railways services.

However, Post-graduate students such as those taking up
medicine, law, doctoral degrees and the like shall be excluded to avail of

the said fare discount.


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SECTION 3. Implementation. —- Nothing in this Act shall prohibit the
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to
exercise its mandate to determine, prescribe and approve and
periodically review and adjust fares, rates and other related charges as
provided for in Executive Order 202. Likewise, the Department of
‘Transportation (DOT?) shall exercise its mandate to determine, prescribe
and approve and periodically review and adjust fares, rates and other

related services as to the operation of the railway systems.

The LTFRB and DOTr shall, after consultation with the
stakeholders and concerned government agencies, shall promulgate the

rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act.

SECTION 4. Separability Clause, - If any portion of this Act is declared
invalid or unconstitutional, all other provisions not affected thereby shall

remain in full force and in effect.

SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, executive orders and
issuances, proclamations, rules and regulation and other issuances or
parts thereof that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are

hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the official gazette or in a newspaper of general

circulation.

Approved,