Students may avail of discounts on plane fares once a measure institutionalizing student fare discounts has been enacted into law, Sen. Grace Poe said today.
“Ang isang batas na isinusulong ko ang i-institutionalize ang 20-percent discount sa lahat ng estudyante hindi lamang sa jeep at bus kundi pati na rin sa eroplano kaya travel pa more,” Poe said at the 82nd Dia de la Ciudad de Zamboanga in Zamboanga City on Tuesday, Feb. 26.
Poe is a co-author and co-sponsor of Senate Bill No. (SBN) 1597 or the proposed Student Fare Discount Act.
A reconciled version of SBN 1597 and its counterpart, House Bill No. 8885 has been approved before the recess earlier this month and is awaiting the signature of the President.
Once enacted into law, all Filipino students enrolled from elementary to college, including those in technical and vocational schools, would be entitled to a 20-percent discount on regular fares in buses, jeepneys, taxis, tricycles, transport network vehicle services, shuttle services, railway services, as well as airline and passenger ships even during weekends and holidays.
Applicable discounts on plane fares will only apply for domestic travel on base fare or the price of the ticket before taxes and other costs.
Excluded are those enrolled in dancing and driving schools, short-term courses of seminar type, and post-graduate studies.
Filipino students who will travel abroad for education, training, and competition will be exempt from the payment of travel tax upon presentation of proof or documentation of intended purpose.
“Isa ako sa nagsusulong ng mga proyekto para sa kapakanan ng mga estudyante at iba pang nangangailangan ng tulong,” said Poe.
Poe is also among the main authors of a bill waiving government fees for pre-employment documents such as police clearance, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance and tax identification number. The bill is also awaiting the President’s signature to be enacted into law.
“Para sa first time graduates, ang lahat ng government permits ninyo—NBI clearance, barangay clearance etc. ay libre na dahil sa aking panukalang batas,” Poe said.
