IN a bid to ease the burden of students, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has increased the student fare discount to 50 percent on the Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 (LRT-1 and LRT-2) and the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3).
The increased discount can be availed starting Friday, June 20, days after classes for the academic year 2025-2026 opened nationwide.
“Gaya ng sinabi ng Pangulo [President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.], direktiba niya na dapat tulungan natin ‘yung mga estudyante lalong-lalo na ngayon kaka-open pa lang this week ng classes,” Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon told reporters at LRT-2 Antipolo station.
In LRT-1, the minimum student fare is P10, while the highest fare is P28.
In LRT-2, the minimum student fare is P8, while the end-to-end fare is P18.
Meanwhile, the minimum fare for students in MRT-3 is P6, while the maximum fare is P14.
Students are entitled to a 20 percent discount on public transportation fares, including jeepneys, under the Student Fare Discount Act.
Dizon said the increased discount on the three major rail lines in the metro is a big help not only for students but also to their families who support them.
The 50 percent fare discount also covers students pursuing postgraduate studies.
To avail of the discount, students should present their valid student ID or certificate of registration or enrollment for the current school year. They can use the train fare discount on weekends and holidays.
However, the DOTr reminded the students that the increased discount is only valid for Single Journey Tickets, which can be purchased at the counter.
Issue student Beep cards
While they are grateful for this initiative, several netizens hoped that the discount would also apply to Beep cards or stored value tickets to avoid long lines at the ticket counter.
Others suggested the government issue Beep cards dedicated to students, like the concessionary Beep cards for persons with disability (PWDs) and senior citizens.
“Provide them a student Beep card na need nila load-an. Tapos every time na gagamitin sa turnstile, matic 50% lang macha-charge (like how Octopus Card works for kids in [Hong Kong]),” a netizen suggested on DOTr’s announcement on Facebook.
“Magkaroon din po sana ng Beep card na pang-student. Kung sa PWD at senior nga nagawa, sana ganun din [sa students],” another Facebook user commented.
Dizon, on the other hand, said the DOTr is pushing to make the 50% student fare discount valid for Beep cards in the next few months.
Marcos earlier directed several government agencies to help students with their needs this school year. Aside from DOTr, the chief executive also instructed the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to expand internet coverage and the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure the availability of health facilities in schools across the country.
