For students planning on traveling during the Holy Week holidays, Senator Sonny Angara reminded them that the 20 percent discount on regular fares still applies regardless of what mode of transport they will be taking.

The year-round discount is provided for under Republic Act 11314 or the Student Fare Discount Act, the law authored and sponsored by Angara.

“Sa lahat ng estudyante, siguraduhin ninyo na may dala kayo na student ID bago kayo magbayad ng ticket sa eroplano, barko, bus o tren. Tuloy-tuloy ang 20 percent na discount sa inyo kahit holiday,” Angara said.

Under the law, the discount is available during the entire period while the student is enrolled, including weekends and holidays. 

Also accepted as identification for students are their validated enrollment forms, in case they do not have their school IDs for one reason or another.

“Siguraduhin niyo lang na may dala kayo na kahit anong government ID pag enrollment form lang ang dala niyo para lang masiguro ang identity niyo sa pagbigay ng discount,” Angara said.

Failure to honor the student fare discount carries with it penalties, for both the owners or operators of the transport services and their concerned employees.

For drivers of land public transportation utilities, they face a suspension of their driver’s licenses for one month for the first offense; two months for the second offense; three months for the third offense; and three months plus a fine of P1,000 for each subsequent offense.

For sea/water public transportation utilities, the owners or operators face a fine of ₱5,000 for the first offense; ₱10,000 for the second offense; ₱20,000 for the third offense; and additional increments of ₱10,000 on top of the fine for the third offense for each subsequent offense.

For air public transportation utilities, the fine is ₱50,000 for the first offense; ₱100,000 and a warning for the second offense; and ₱150,000 plus other sanctions as may be determined by the Civil Aeronautics Board for the third and subsequent offenses.

In the case of rail public transportation utilities, violations will result in sanctions or fines under the existing civil service rules. For privately-operated rail public transportation utilities, they face the same amount of for sea/water public transportation utilities.

“Kaya pinapaalala natin sa lahat ng mga driver, operator o may-ari ng mga pampasaherong sasakyan, pati na din ng kanilang mga empleyado, na sundin ang batas at ibigay ang 20 percent na discount para sa mga estudyante ngayong Holy Week at pati na din sa mga darating na holiday sa taong ito,” Angara said