Senator Juan Edgardo Angara on Sunday urged his fellow lawmakers to hasten the approval of his bill seeking to expand and institutionalize a 20-percent fare discount given to students.
“We always say that the youth is the future of the country. Let’s make this come true by investing adequately on our students,” said Angara, vice chairman of the Senate education committee.
Under Senate Bill No. 945, the discount will cover land, water, air and rail transportation for students.
Angara made the renewed push for the bill’s passage as most students are expected to return to their home provinces, either by land, air or sea travel, starting this month during the summer school break.
Once enacted into law, Filipino students will enjoy a 20-percent slash on regular fares not only during school days and summer classes, but also during weekends, Christmas break, Lenten break, semestral break, and summer vacation.
“Let’s lessen a bit the hardship of parents in sending their children to school. One way is to help our students by cutting their transportation expenses. A few pesos or centavos saved from the fare discount can be used for other school requirements,” Angara said.
The senator explained that at present, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board limits the grant of 20-percent fare discounts only to land transportation and only during weekdays from June to March and during summer classes.