MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines may eventually have a law that would grant students a 20% discount on all forms of land, sea, and air transportation, after the House of Representatives approved a bill institutionalizing this.

Legislators approved House Bill (HB) 8885 on 3rd and final reading on Monday, February 4, with a vote of 169-0-0. Senators earlier approved their version of the measure on October 1, 2018.

Who would be qualified for the discount? If signed into law, HB 8885 would grant a 20% fare discount to any Filipino citizen who is enrolled in any elementary, secondary, technical and vocational, or higher education institution. 

He or she must present a valid school identification card or a validated enrollment form together with a government-issued ID. 

But the student fare discount would not be applicable to postgraduate students and those enrolled in informal short-term courses, which HB 8885 said may include courses on dancing, swimming, music, and driving.

The House bill also bars qualified students from availing of double discounts or combining the student fare discount with other programs.

What forms of transportation would be covered? HB 8858 would mandate that all land, sea, and air public transportation utilities grant a 20% fare discount to qualified students.

These may include buses, jeepneys, taxis, and other similar vehicles-for-hire, as well as tricycles, trains, aircraft, and marine vessels.

When can the discount be availed of? Under the bill, a student may avail of the discount during the entire enrollment period, including weekends and holidays. 

What would be the punishment for violators? Drivers and operators of public transportation utilities stand to face several penalties should they refuse to grant the student fare discount. 

For drivers of land public transportation utilities:

• 1st offense: Suspension of driver’s license for 1 month
• 2nd offense: Suspension of driver’s license for 2 months
• 3rd offense: Suspension of driver’s license for 3 months
• Subsequent offenses: Suspension of driver’s license for 3 months and a P10,000 fine

The owner or operator of the vehicle would also have to pay P1,000 for every offense committed by the driver.

For owners or operators of land public transportation vehicles that require prior booking:

• 1st offense: P1,000 fine
• 2nd offense: P5,000 fine
• 3rd offense: P10,000 fine
• Subsequent offenses: P10,000 fine plus P5,000 for each subsequent offense 

For the owners or operators of sea or air public transportation:

• 1st offense: P5,000 fine
• 2nd offense: P10,000 fine
• 3rd offense: P20,000 fine
• Subsequent offenses: P20,000 fine plus P10,000 for each subsequent offense

 For operators of rail public transportation utilities:

• 1st offense: P1,000 fine
• 2nd offense: P5,000 fine
• 3rd offense: P10,000 fine
• Subsequent offenses: P10,000 plus P5,000 for each subsequent offense 

Any person who would falsify identification documents in an attempt to avail of the student discount would be denied access to the privilege and may be subjected to “civil and penal liabilities prescribed by law.” – Rappler.com