House bill seeks 20% fare discount for teachers

A proposal is being pushed at the House of Representatives to provide teachers with a 20% discount on regular domestic fares in public transportation utilities.

In filing House Bill 4129, Manila Teachers party-list Representative Virgilio Lacson wants to help teachers "make ends meet" by granting them fare discounts in order to assist them in instilling skills and values to students and better recognize their contributions to nation-building.

Under the measure, a teacher will be entitled to a 20% discount on regular domestic fares of all kinds of public transportation utilities just by presenting a duly issued and validated school employee's ID.

A Professional Regulation Commission ID issued to licensed teachers may also be presented in the absence of validated school employee ID.

Teachers who are refused the fare discount may file a complaint with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for land public transportation utilities, the Maritime Industry Authority for sea public transportation utilities, the Legal Service of the Department of Transportation for rail transportation utilities, and the Office of the Local Chief Executive for tricycle.

If enacted into law, penalties await drivers and operators who refuse to give fare discounts under the measure, ranging on suspension of driver's license to payment of fines.

Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization president Efren De Luna, however, expressed concern over the measure, noting that it would not be fair to drivers who only receive measly incomes.

"Kung mabibigyan pa ng discount yung lahat ng teacher, baka naman pati naman ang mga manggagawa ay humingi na rin ng discount sa amin. Kapag dadagdagan pa yang ganyang tinatawag na kabawasan ng kita, halos ano pa ang kikitain ng mga driver?" he said in an Unang Balita report on Thursday.

Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines chairperson Zeny Maranan echoed De Luna's sentiment.

"Minimum wage nga sila pero mas malaki ang kita ng teacher kesa sa mga driver. Kasi kami walang fixed na kita. Kung talagang ipagpapatuloy nila yan, taasan nila ang pamasahe namin," she said.

LTFRB technical division chief Joel Bolano, nevertheless, said that the measure will still be deliberated and they will balance the interest of the teachers and drivers.

"Kailangan balansehin natin. Pag-aaralan ito at kukunsultahin ang mga stakeholders natin," he said.  —LDF, GMA News