AS THE ENTIRE nation observed the 47th National Disability Week, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. led the official launching of the half fare discount for all senior citizens, PWDs and students which was successfully held recently at the MRT-3 Santolan-Annapolis southbound station. The President was welcomed by Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon and MRT-3 general manager Michael Capati.
The President has ordered the Department of Transportation (DOTR), to grant a 50-percent discount on these sectors for all train rides in all Light Rail Transit 1 (LRT-1), Light Trail Transit Line 2 (LRT 2), and Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3) in Metro Manila. The President’s directive is always to prioritize the welfare of seniors and PWDs, as well as to ease the family’s daily burden for their transportation expenses.
“Our students, persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens truly need our help because their incomes are very limited. That’s why we thought of this program as something we can do to support our commuters who are PWDs and senior citizens,” the President said in a speech at the MRT-3 Santolan-Annapolis southbound station.
MANDATED HALF FARE
The project expands the current mandated fare discount of 20 percent for students, senior citizens, and PWDs to 50 percent.
This 50 percent discount on train fares is a small step to make public transportation more affordable for our priority sectors,” he added.
”Nandito po tayo ngayong umaga para i-highlight ‘yung ating bagong gagawin na nagbibigay tayo ng diskwento. Noong nakaraan nakapagbigay tayo ng diskwento sa ating mga students basta’t magpakita ng student ID ay makakapagkuha sila ng 50 porsyento na discount,” Marcos said. (We are here this morning to highlight the new discounts we will offer. Last time, we were able to give 50 percent discounts to students as long as they present their IDs.)
13M SENIORS, 7M PWDs
According to the President, the additional discount will benefit 13 million seniors and 7 million PWDs per year.
He emphasized that students, seniors and PWDs need the help of the government as they have limited incomes and allowances
“We have given a 50-percent discount to students as long as they present their student IDs,” he said. “Now we are adding senior citizens and PWDs to the 50-percent discount.”
The 50-percent discount will automatically be applied using the registered white Beep cards for PWDs and senior citizens. For those who have not applied for white Beep cards yet, discounts may also be availed through single-journey tickets.
HOW TO AVAIL
Similar to the 50-percent student discount, seniors and PWDs can avail themselves of lower train fares every day, including weekends and holidays, until 2028, simply by presenting their senior citizen ID or PWD ID at ticket counters.
COMMUTER COMPLAINTS
The expanded discount on train fares comes as the administration continues to face public complaints about the quality of rail services, particularly MRT 3, the busiest among the three rapid transit lines in Metro Manila. Marcos acknowledged the problems of overcrowding, delays, and extreme heat that regular commuters endure daily.
PBBM PODCAST
In President’s recent second episode of his “BBM Podcast” in June, Marcos said he drew inspiration from how other countries provide generous transport benefits to their vulnerable sectors.
SENIOR INDIGENTS
In a related report, the DSWD said over four million indigent seniors are receiving aid for their health and daily needs through the agency’s Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens program.