TRANSPORTATION is pricey.
And this is especially true when you’re living in a rural area like Metro Manila, where tricycle rates start at 60 pesos and trains start at 15 to 20 pesos.
At first glance, it seems like the price of it isn’t really much considering that it only includes two digits, but then this narrates a different story when you’re travelling from point A to point B.
In the case of students, their direction from point A to point B is the equivalent of their LRT 1 ride on the way to school. Running from Balintawak to Dr. Santos station, the price range of the ride starts from P20 to P55.
For many students, the price of LRT 1 comes to be unattainable due to its price, and upon hearing the announcement of the Department of Transportation (DOTR) lowering down the price up to 50%, this sounds like nothing more than music to the ears of students.
Despite the price increase that was previously implemented on LRT 1 last April, students all over the Philippines found themselves in an ecstatic state upon hearing the good news.
On June 20, the DOTR announced the increased 20% to 50% discount for all students from LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3.
To lessen the line hassle for student discounts, DOTR had recently implemented a student lane last Thursday.
These student lane are built in MRT 3 and LRT 2, aiming for seamless movement of students who are availing the 50% discount.
With the implementation of the 50% student discount, it is that it helped a lot of students to lessen out their daily expenses, and this is especially good news for 2nd-year college student Art, who stated that a lower transportation fee on the LRT means more budget for his food expenses.
“Malaking tulong talaga siya for me kasi ako hanggang 8 pm din yung pasok ko.” He said. “It’s not much, pero at least dagdag na din to sa food ko.”
Coming from R Papa station, Art travels to Central Terminal station to get to his school. From 20 pesos, he now only spends 13 pesos for his ride on LRT 1.
The same thing could be said for a graduating student, Nicole; claiming the student discount helps her save some money from her weekly allowance.
Unlike Art, who only travels with LRT 1, Nicole travels to school through MRT 3 and LRT 1, amounting to 49 pesos spent per trip.
“I usually spend 49 pesos just to get to school. Oo, di naman ganoon kaexpensive pero 49 pesos din yun per trip eh, so in a day, I spend like 98 pesos sa transpo ko.” she said.
From 49 pesos, Nicole now only spends 27 pesos on her trip to school, amounting to only 54 pesos per day.
The implementation of the student discount is under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, Student Fare Discount Act, and Magna Carta for Persons with Disability, where students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities are entitled to a 20% discount in public transportation fees.
