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On the removal of the students’ fare discount

It was Saturday morning. I rode a passenger jeep from our place to the Central Business District (CBD) of Baguio City. On the way, a mother handed a bill to the driver: “Manong dua, maysa a regular (passenger), maysa nga estudyante” (Manong, fare for two, one regular and one student). The driver humbly said: “Awan ti student fare discount tatta ta Sabado” (Student fare is not applicable today because it is Saturday).

“Why?” asked the mother, “they have classes today”, she retorted. The driver answered, saying the land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) issued a Memorandum removing the students’ fare discount during Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

The Memorandum is another flak created by the concerned government agency. Fare discounts were religiously observed by past administrations. The removal of the discount privilege by the LTFRB is questionable and baseless. In fact, they issued it without interest groups asking for it.

The move further distressed the students, who are already facing financial problems. The LTFRB failed to consider the students’ situations. Students’ groups found out that most students have classes during Saturdays in most of the colleges and universities in the Baguio-Benguet area, like those in Metro Manila. Students added that they undergo their National Service Training Program (NSTP) during Sundays. Research work is also done mostly during Sundays and holidays, added the students’ groups.

But there is a particular situation where the students’ fare discount is important. It was noted that most colleges and universities are concentrated in the urban centers, like Baguio City. The students reside outside the urban centers. Majority of the students, who are not from Baguio, go home to their respective families during weekends for their family responsibilities and/or to get their support. The students’ fare discount during Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays is a big help for them as they can use that amount to buy other needs.

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The reality that tertiary schools are concentrated in the urban centers reminds me of the youth campaign for an alternative educational system. The concentration manifests the state of education. It failed to establish more schools in the rural areas for the educational needs of the youth, as majority of the youth come from the rural areas. The students therefore are left with no choice but to pursue their education in the urban areas where the daily existence is more expensive. You need to buy all your needs and pay for your board and lodging unlike in the provinces. Added to their daily expenses is their transport fare every time that they go home to their respective families and/or to get their allowance for their studies.

The removal of the students’ fare discount by the LTFRB is another burden to the students.

The budget for educational services and the benefits that they should utilize are denied to them by the present administration. The public funds are utilized by her to perpetuate herself into political power. This misspending of public funds is done at the expense of our youth, who are supposed to be the leaders of tomorrow.

I understand why they are in the forefront of the struggle to oust Pres. Arroyo. #

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