is RECEIVED

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4994

Introduced by Representative TYRONE D. AGABAS

AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING STUDENT FARE DISCOUNT, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

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 (DOTr) 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.

= nee, D. AGABAS

Representative
6* District, Pangasinan


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4994

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.

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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.

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,

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