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Students submit petition to DOTC for return of 20% fare discount

BAGUIO CITY (July 22) — Student leaders from various tertiary schools in Baguio City and Benguet submitted to the regional office of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) today their petition to restore the 20% student fare discount during weekends, holidays, and school breaks.

Students claimed that they had been enjoying the fare discount until it was cancelled by the Land Transportation and Franchising Board (LTFRB) national office through Memorandum Circular No. 2005-014 in June this year.

The local National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) said that the student fare discount should be restored as most of the tertiary schools in the area have classes on Saturdays, the national service training is on Sundays, and research and library work done during weekends.

The students likewise explained that they regularly go home to the provinces during those periods. Majority of college students in the city are from the different provinces in the Cordillera, Ilocos, and Cagayan regions and as far as Central Luzon and Manila.

“The implementation of the P2 fare increase in public utility jeeps and buses and the removal of student fare discount on weekends, holidays and school breaks are unbearable for ordinary parents and students who have no other source of income other than their daily allowances,” stated the petition. NUSP also submitted the petition to members of the City Council who adopted a resolution for the 20% student fare discount.

The students explained that when their fare was discounted at P4.50 a student spent an average P18 daily but this has to be jacked-up now to P24 daily with the new fare of P7.50. Those with Saturday classes have to spend P36 day, they added. Students contribute primarily to the economy of the city, academicians claimed.

Student councils in the city under the NUSP also condemned the removal of the 20% discount without consulting them. They said the petition is one of the means to air their position for the restoration of their 20% student fare discounts. However, they can resort to other means to show their opposition, they added.

The petition was signed by 6,250 students and parents and expected to gain more signatories as the petition-signing is still ongoing. # Arthur L. Allad-iw for NORDIS

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