EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 2)
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No. 4129

Introduced by Representative Virgilio S. Lacson

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 9, Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that “The State shall promote
a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the
nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social
services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of
life for all”.

In order to assist our teachers in the fulfillment of their noble profession of instilling
life skills and values to our schoolchildren and to better recognize and appreciate their
contributions to nation-building, it is incumbent upon the State to grant fare discounts to
teachers, helping them in making ends meet, enabling our teachers to focus more on the
practice of the teaching profession.

This Act seeks to provide fare discount privilege to teachers in all modes of public
transportation by institutionalizing mechanisms that will ensure uniformed
implementation both at the national and local level.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of the bill is earnestly sought.

We
VIRGILIO $. LACSON
Manila Teachers Party List


Cea Sue

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS a
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
House Bill No._4129

Introduced by Representative Virgilio S. Lacson

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR FARE DISCOUNT PRIVILEGES TO TEACHERS ON ALL
MODES OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, INSTITUTIONALIZING
MECHANISM THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as “Teacher Fare Discount Act.”

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State shall establish a mechanism that ensures
the mandatory grant of discounts for teachers, enlist the corporation and support of public
transportation utilities in providing assistance to teachers as a social responsibility through
the observance of this privilege, and encourage teachers to pursue quality teaching practice
in the exercise of their profession.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. — For the purpose of this Act, the term:

a) Teacher refers to any Filipino citizen who are in actual practice of
teaching profession in primary and secondary school;

b) School days refers to the entire duration of the school year during which
teachers are engaged in teaching excluding term breaks;

©) Public Transportation utilities refers to natural or juridical persons
engaged in the business of transporting passengers or goods, by land,
water, or air for compensation offering their services to the public;

d) Owner refers to the actual legal owner of a vehicle, in whose name such
vehicle is duly registered with the Department of Transportation; and

e) _ Driver refers to every and any licensed operator of a motor vehicle.

Sec. 4. Teacher Fare Discount Privilege. — A teacher shall be entitled to a twenty
(20%) percent discount on the regular domestic fares of all kinds of public transportation
utilities upon the presentation of duly issued and validated school employee's identification
cards. In the absence of a validation school employee identification card, a Professional

a

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Regulation Commission (PRC) Identification Card issued to licensed teachers shall be
sufficient. Provided, that this privilege may be availed of only during school days.

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4 Sec. 5. Complaint Mechanism. — A teacher who is refused the fare discount privilege
5 under this Act, may file a complaint with:

6 a) The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for land public
7 transportation utilities;

8 b) The Maritime Industry Authority for sea public transportation utilities;

9 ©) The Legal Service of the Department of Transportation for rail public

10 transportation facilities; and

W d) The Office of the Local Chief Executive of the Local Government Units
12 concerned for tricycle.

B ‘These agencies and offices are hereby authorized to impose penalties provided for in

14 Section 6 of the Act on public transportation utilities that refuse or fail to grant the teacher
15 fare discount privilege.

7 Sec. 6. Penalties. — The following penalties shall be imposed or refusal or failure to
18 _ grant the teacher fare discount privilege provided under this Act:

19 a) For land public transportation utilities, including tricycle:

20 The driver shall suffer the penalty of suspension of driver's license for:

21 1) One (1) week for the first offense;

2 2) Two (2) weeks for the second offense; and

2B 3) Three (3) weeks plus a fine of one thousand pesos (Php1,000.00) for
24 each subsequent offense.

25 The owner or operator of the land transportation utility shall be likewise
26 liable with the conductor for the payment of the fine.

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28 In land public transportation utilities requiring prior booking, the operator
29 shall be likewise liable with its employee responsible for the refusal or failure
30 for a fine of:

31 1) One thousand (Php1,000.00) for the first offense;

32 2) Five thousand (Php5,000.00) for the second offense;

33 3) Ten thousand (Php10,000.00) for the third offense; and

34 4) Additional increment of five thousand pesos (Php5,000.00) on top of
35 the penalty for the third offense for each subsequent offense.

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37 b) For sea, water or air public transportation utilities:

38 The owner, operator and the chief of operations, of the sea, water or air
39 public transportation utility shall be solidarily liable with its employee or
40 agent responsible for the refusal or failure for a fine of:

41 1) Five thousand pesos (Php5,000.00) for the first offense;

42 2) Ten thousand pesos (Php10,000.00) for the second offense;

a 3) Twenty thousand pesos (Php25,000.00) for the third offense; and
44 4) Additional increments of ten thousand pesos (Php10,000.00) on
45 top of the penalty for the third offense for each subsequent

46 offense.
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©) Forrail public transportation utilities:
The operation and the chief of operation of the rail public
transportation utility shall be solidarily liable with its employee responsible
for the refusal or failure for a fine of:
1) One thousand pesos (Php1,000.00) for the first offense;
2) Five thousand pesos (Php5,000.00) for the second offense;
3) Ten thousand pesos (Php10,000.00) for the third offense; and
4) Additional increments of five thousand pesos (Php5,000.00) on
top of the penalty for the third offense for each subsequent
offense.

Sec.7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty (30) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall, after consultation with the
concerned government agencies, promulgate the rules and regulations for the proper
implementations of this Act.

Sec. 8. Separability Clause. — If any provision or portion of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not thereby affected shall
remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, ordinances, rules,
regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with any
provision of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended, and/or modified accordingly.

Sec. 10. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,