The Student Fare Discount Act was signed into law by President Rodrigo R. Duterto last April 17, 2017 but was only released a few days ago. Republic Act No. 11314, otherwise known as An Act Institutionalizing the Grant of Student Fare Discount Privileges on Public Transportation and For Other Purposes, now puts the students at par with the senior citizens and persons with disabilities as they enjoy the twenty (20) percent discount on public utility vehicles.
Under Section 5 of the Student Fare Discount Act, “A student under this Act shall be entitled to a grant of 20{affa41581c539e77a889a6a46af960df9ff1c7424670374343af90ba11e244ac} discount on domestic regular fares, upon personal presentation of their duly-issued school identification cards (IDs) or current validated enrolment form, supported by the prescribed government-issued identification document, subject to an appropriate verification mechanism to be provided in the implementing rules and regulations. Provided that in the case of air transportation utilities, the discount shall only apply to the base fare or the price of the ticket before taxes and costs of ancillary services.”
The students can avail the student fare discount on public utility busses (PUBs), public utility jeepneys (PUJs), taxis and other similar vehicles-for-hire, tricycles, passenger trains, aircrafts and marine vessels. It can be availed of during the entire period while the student is enrolled, including weekends and holidays.
There shall be no student fare discount on the following transport services:
- School service
- Shuttle service
- Tourist service
- Any other similar service covered by contract or charter agreement and with a valid franchise or permit from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
The student fare discount is only available for Filipino students in elementary, secondary, technical-vocational, or higher education institutions. It is not available for students in post graduate degree courses and informal short-term courses such as dancing, swimming, music, and driving lessons, and seminar type of courses.
Download the full copy of RA 11314: