Student Fare Discount Act – Republic Act 11314 of 2019
Student Fare Discount Act
in the Philippines
Republic Act 11314 of 2019
A student under this Act shall be entitled to a grant of 20% discount on domestic regular fares, upon personal presentation of their duly-issued school identification cards (IDs) or current validated enrollment form, supported by the prescribed government-issued identification document, subject to an appropriate verification mechanism to be provided in the implementing rules and regulations.
This 20% student fare discount can be availed of with all public transportation utilities such as public utility jeepneys, taxis, public utility buses as well as other similar vehicles-for-hire tricycles, passenger trains, aircraft, and marine vessels. This was signed into law by then President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in April 2019.
Students can avail of this student fare discount even on weekends and holidays.
On our personal experience, initially some taxi drivers in Davao City would say there is no discount for taxi or that said discount is only for jeepney rides. But so far they gave in and gave a discount when we said that there is a law. If they still reply insisting against the student discount, we would say that the penalty for this is around thousand pesos. It is actually P5,000 according to LTFRB Davao when asked through a phone call.
Who can avail?
Filipino students enrolled in elementary / grade school, secondary / high school / JHS / SHS, technical-vocational, or higher education institutions / college students can avail of the discount privilege. Present your current valid student ID. Most drivers don’t ask for it anymore especially when they see you obviously wearing official school uniform, picking you up from your school or dropping student off at their school.
However, student discount does not apply to students in post graduate degree courses and informal short-term courses or classes like music, swimming, dancing, martial arts, taking driving lessons, and seminar type of courses.
The law does not cover carpool or school service, tourist service, and any similar service covered by contract or charter agreement and with valid franchise or permit from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Is there a penalty?
Yes! Drivers that refuse to grant the student the 20% fare discount will face penalties:
First offense = PHP 5,000
Second offense = PHP 10,000 and vehicle impound for one month
Third offense = PHP 15,000 and cancelation of their franchise
LTFRB encourages passengers to get the plate number with name of taxi to report those who refuse to give the student fare discount.
LTFRB Davao RO XI telephone number (082) 296 7866.
