Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House Bill No, 375

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)
issued recently Memorandum Circular 2017 - 024 as supplementary
amendment to Memorandum Circular 2005 - 014 (Supplement to M.C. 2003
~ 033) granting student fare discount to students seven (7) days a week
including school breaks, legal and special holidays providing financial relief
to the students and their parents. The intent of said M.C. is laudable and
should be institutionalized to shelter it from changes in policy or
administration.

This bill will institutionalized said initiative and policy of the LTFRB
and expanding further the enumeration of public transport systems to
include UV expresses, taxis and transport network vehicles (TNVs) and
Point-to-Point buses which are new types of public transport systems.

However, the said initiative of LTFRB falls short to provide the same
privileges to students who use or commute via rail transits and railway
systems like Metro Rail Transit (MRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT) and train
system. Said mode of public transport is beyond LTFRB’s jurisdiction and
is under the mandate of the Department of Transportation (DOT) which
manages the MRT, LRTs and railway system. Thousands of students use
these transport systems to travel to and from their homes and schools since
these are cheaper and faster means of transport to avoid the grueling traffic
that is part of the daily lives of people in the Metro Manila and urban areas.
Thousands of students also preferred to live with their parents in nearby or
adjacent provinces around Metro Manila which is now referred to as Mega


Manila (that includes the provinces of Rizal, Laguna, Cavite and Bulacan),
Many students ride the Philippine National Railway system from Laguna to
travel to Metro Manila, not only during school days but also during
weekends and school breaks. If the modernization plan will be realized, the
North Luzon Railway system will be operationalized and will serve the people
living in north of Metro Manila, most probably will be a mode of transport to
students living north of Metro Manila.

This bill intends to balance the privileges enjoyed by students using
the regular mode of public transport and the new and emerging modes of
transport systems not only during school days but even during school
breaks and holidays when the students will go home to their families,

Hence, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

Qu ¢- ON,

ERIC L. OLIVAREZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

375

House Bill No.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING STUDENT FARE DISCOUNT AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - In accordance with the
Constitution, the State shall promote the right of all citizens to quality
education at all levels and shall provide incentives to ease the financial
burden of the students and their parents, In furtherance of this policy, 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
systems such as metro rail transit (MRT), light rail transits (LRTs) and other
railway services.

However, Post-graduate students such as those taking up medicine,
law, doctoral degrees and the like shall not 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 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, the remainder of this Act or any
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,