A measure expanding the 20% student fare discount to cover all kinds of public transport, including airplanes and ferries,  has been approved by the House of Representatives on third and final reading.

Among the primary authors of the consolidated measure—House Bill 5068—is  Bulacan Rep. Ma. Victoria Sy-Alvarado, a member of the  National Unity Party (NUP).

The current student fare discount covers only buses and jeepneys. HB 5068 states that students aged 30 years old and below need only to present their school-issued ID or current validated enrollment form supported by any document to avail themselves of the discount on domestic fares, even on airplanes, ferries, MRT and LRT systems,  and other forms of public transport.

The discount may only  be used during school days.

The other authors of the bill are Quezon City Rep. Alfredo Vargas III, Aurora Rep. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo, Camiguin Rep. Xavier Jesus Romualdo, and Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento.

The bill states that students who are refused the fare discount may file their complaints with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), or the Department of Transportation and Communications.

HB 5068 also penalizes owners, operators, drivers and other employees of public transport utilities if they refuse to honor the student discount.

For drivers of  land public transport utilities, the penalties include the suspension of driver’s license for one month for the first offense; two months for the second offense and three months for the third offense, plus a fine of P1,000 for each subsequent offense.

The owner or operator of a land transportation utility shall also be held liable with the conductor and fined P1,000 for every offense or violation.

Owners or operators of water or air public transportation utilities will be held liable along with the employee or agent and fined P5,000 for the first offense; P10,000 for the second offense, P20,000 for the third offense, and additional increments of P10,000 on top of the fine for the third offense for each subsequent offense.

A fine of P1,000 for the operator of the rail public transportation utility will be imposed  for the first violation of the student fare discount law. A fine of   P5,000 will be imposed for  the second offense; P10,000 for the third offense and additional increments of P5,000 for each subsequent offense, the bill states.