Student Fare Discount Act

Constitution mandates the State to protect and promote the right to quality education accessible to all.
Establishes mechanisms for mandatory student fare discounts.
Seeks cooperation of public transport utilities to assist students as a social responsibility.
Encourages underprivileged students to pursue education for a secure future.

"Student": Filipino citizen enrolled in authorized elementary, secondary, technical-vocational, or higher education institutions; excludes postgraduate and informal short-term courses.
"Public transportation utilities": Common carriers transporting passengers or goods for compensation by land, sea, or air.
"Public transportation utility operator": Entity/person with a Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) to operate as a common carrier.

Covers all public transportation types including buses, jeepneys, taxis, tricycles, trains, aircrafts, marine vessels.
Excludes school service, shuttle, tourist service, and contracted or chartered services with valid LTFRB permits.
Discounts valid throughout student enrollment, including weekends and holidays.
Students may choose between promotional fares or discounted regular fares.

Twenty percent (20%) discount on domestic regular fares.
Requires presentation of valid school ID or current enrollment form plus government ID.
Verification mechanism to be detailed in IRR.
For air transport, discount applies only to base fare before taxes and ancillary fees.

Students cannot claim discounts if higher discounts exist from other laws or programs.
Discounts cannot be combined.

Operators may claim the cost of student fare discounts as a tax deduction from gross income.
Discounts must be properly documented and comply with the National Internal Revenue Code.

Government agencies regulating fares may provide alternative relief measures to operators and drivers.
Examples include reduction or exemption from regulatory fees to mitigate discount impact.

Upon verified complaint, penalties for refusal or failure to grant discount include:
- Land transport drivers: suspension of license escalating from 1 month (1st offense) to 3 months plus fines for subsequent offenses.
- Land transport owners/operators: fines from P5,000 to P15,000; impounding and CPC cancellation for repeated violations.
- Sea/water operators: escalating fines from P5,000 (1st offense) to increments of P10,000 beyond the third offense.
- Air operators: fines from P50,000 (1st offense) to P150,000 plus additional sanctions.
- Rail utilities: must provide designated student fare booths; violations fined under existing civil service rules or similar fines as sea/water operators.
Cancellation or revocation of CPC, permits, franchises possible upon repeated offenses.

Use of fake IDs or fraud to avail discounts will result in denial of privilege and possible civil or criminal liabilities.

Within 90 days of effectivity, LTFRB, MARINA, CAB, and DOTr must promulgate IRR for their sectors.
IRR development to involve relevant agencies and stakeholders ensuring proper verification, including use of government ID platforms.

If any part of the Act is declared invalid, remaining provisions continue to be effective.

Any inconsistent laws, orders, or rules are repealed or modified to conform with this Act.

Takes effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.