Law Summary
Declaration of Policy
- The State recognizes the constitutional mandate to promote and protect the right to quality education and make it accessible.
- The State shall:
- Establish mechanisms ensuring mandatory student fare discounts.
- Enlist cooperation of public transport utilities to assist students as a social responsibility.
- Encourage poor and underprivileged students to pursue quality education.
Definition of Terms
- "Student": A Filipino citizen enrolled in elementary, secondary, technical-vocational, or higher education institutions, excluding postgraduate and informal short-term courses.
- "Public transportation utilities": Common carriers transporting passengers or goods by land, sea/water, or air for compensation.
- "Public transportation utility operator": Entity/person with a Certificate of Public Convenience for public transport operation.
Coverage
- Covers all public transportation utilities including buses, jeepneys, taxis, tricycles, trains, aircraft, and marine vessels.
- Excludes school service, shuttle service, tourist service, and similar contract/charter services with valid franchises.
- Discount applies during the entire enrollment period, including weekends and holidays.
- Students may choose the lower between promotional fare or regular fare less discount.
Student Fare Discount Privilege
- Students are entitled to a 20% discount on domestic regular fares upon presenting valid school ID or enrollment form plus government ID.
- For air transport, discount applies only to the base fare before taxes and ancillary costs.
Prohibition on Availment of Double Discounts
- Students cannot claim the discount if they already receive a higher discount under other laws or programs.
Tax Deduction
- Public transport operators may claim the cost of the student discount as a tax deduction for the taxable year.
- Deduction subject to proper documentation and compliance with the National Internal Revenue Code.
Additional Relief for Operators and Drivers
- Government agencies regulating fares may provide relief like fee reductions or exemptions to mitigate discount impact.
Filing of Complaints
- Students denied the discount may file complaints with appropriate agencies:
- LTFRB for land transport (except tricycles)
- MARINA for sea/water transport
- CAB for air transport
- DOTr Legal Service for rail transport
- Local Chief Executive for tricycles
- These agencies can impose penalties for non-compliance.
Penalties
- Land Transport (including tricycles):
- Driver's license suspension escalating from 1 to 3 months plus fines for repeated offenses.
- Operator fined from ₱5,000 escalating to cancellation of CPC for repeated offenses.
- Sea/Water Transport:
- Fines from ₱5,000 escalating up to increments beyond ₱20,000 for repeated offenses.
- Air Transport:
- Fines from ₱50,000 escalating to ₱150,000 plus additional sanctions for repeated offenses.
- Rail Transport:
- Mandated to observe discount and designate discount booths.
- Violations fined per sea transport penalties; may lead to cancellation of CPC or permits.
Use of Falsified IDs and Misrepresentation
- Use of falsified documents or fraud to avail discounts results in denial of privilege and civil/penal liabilities.
Implementing Rules and Regulations
- IRRs to be promulgated within 90 days by respective agencies (LTFRB, MARINA, CAB, DOTr) in consultation with relevant government offices.
Separability Clause
- Invalidity of any provision does not affect the remaining provisions which continue to be effective.
Repealing Clause
- Laws or issuances inconsistent with this Act are repealed or modified accordingly.
Effectivity
- The Act takes effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.