FRIENDLY REMINDER Operators and drivers of passenger vehicles face stiff penalties if they violate the lawon mandatory 20-percent discounts, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chair Teofilo Guadiz III warned on Monday. 鈥擨nquirer file photo
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Monday issued a stern warning to drivers and operators of public utility vehicles (PUVs) such as taxis, buses, and jeepneys, including Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) like Grab鈥攖o honor the mandatory 20-percent discount for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and students.
LTFRB Chair Teofilo Guadiz III explained that under Republic Act No. 9994, or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, and RA 7277, or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, a 20-percent fare discount is required for senior citizens and PWDs.
Students are also entitled to a similar discount based on LTFRB memorandum circulars.
READ: Senior citizens鈥� discount: Stirring debate over what鈥檚 right, wrong
鈥淭he agency reminds all PUV operators to grant students the discount at all times, including holidays, weekends, and during vacation, 24/7, [all] year-round,鈥� Guadiz said.
Noncompliance reports
Reports about noncompliance, however, despite clear guidelines, have prompted the agency to take decisive action.
Complaints have emerged, especially from passengers who rely on TNVS platforms, about the lack of a seamless option to apply discounts.
Some PUVs, including jeepneys and bus drivers, have also been accused of refusing to honor valid IDs or charging the full fare, leaving passengers frustrated and disadvantaged.
鈥淪uch practices go against the law and are a disservice to the commuting public,鈥� Guadiz said.
Penalties, sanctions
The LTFRB emphasized that operators and drivers who fail to follow these regulations face stiff penalties.
Sanctions include fines, suspension of franchise operations, or even franchise revocation for repeat offenders.
Guadiz stressed the importance of compliance, particularly amid rising transportation costs, saying that honoring these discounts was a 鈥渓egal obligation and a moral duty.鈥�
To empower passengers, the LTFRB urged the public to report incidents of noncompliance.
They should provide detailed information, such as the vehicle鈥檚 plate number, the time of the incident, and any supporting evidence like receipts or screenshots. Reports can be submitted through the agency鈥檚 hotline or official social media pages.
The LTFRB also called on TNVS companies to upgrade their platforms to ensure that discounts for eligible passengers would be applied with ease.
鈥淣oncompliance with discount policies not only undermines the rights of passengers but also tarnishes the reputation of the public transport sector,鈥� Guadiz said.