Iligan City Lone District Rep. Frederick Siao
ILIGAN CITY -- As classes open on Monday, Iligan City Lone District Rep. Frederick Siao reminded drivers of public utility vehicles and transport network companies to implement the mandatory 20 percent discount for students, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens.
Siao said public utility vehicles must implement the fare discounts because these are stated in the certificates of public convenience and provisional authority to operate issued to them.
“The LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) must fairly apply the laws and regulations on fare discounts to all public transport utilities. No special treatment, sacred cows, or exceptions on this issue. Ang taxis at FX ay public utility vehicles so obligado din silang magbigay ng fare discounts (Taxis and FX are public utility vehicles so they are obliged to give fare discounts),” Siao said in a statement released to the media on Saturday.
“Software solution lang naman ang kailangan para maipatupad nang suwabe ang (is needed in order to smoothly implement the) fare discounts. Grab just has to include the fare discount feature in their booking menu of options and features,” he added.
In the 18th Congress, Siao said he will propose a bill wherein proceeds from fines will be deposited in a Commuters' Welfare Fund, so that aside from the comprehensive third-party liability insurance, this fund can be for the commuter-victims of road mishaps.
Siao said “the financing for the hospitalization, post-incident recovery, burial, and financial assistance to victims' dependents can be sourced from this Commuters' Welfare Fund.”
He reminded the drivers that even on weekends or holidays, students should enjoy the mandatory fare discount, for as long as they are enrolled. (PNA)
