Students to get free train rides; no terminal fees, too

INQUIRER.NET FILE PHOTO

STUDENTS will be exempted from paying train fares at certain times of the day starting July 1, and from terminal fees in seaports and airports beginning July 16 and August 1, respectively.

The announcement was made by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) during a news conference following the Transport Talks meet held on June 27 in Clark, Pampanga.

Under the “Student Free Ride Program,” DOTr said students from preschool to college (excluding post-graduate students), as well as those enrolled in trade, arts, technical and vocational courses, do not have to pay fares in Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) and Philippine National Railways (PNR) trains Mondays to Fridays, except on holidays.

In MRT-3, students get to ride for free from 5 a.m. to 6:30 a.m., and from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. In LRT-2 the hours are from 4:30 a.m. to 6 a.m., and from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. In PNR, students are free from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m., and from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The DOTr said students need only to show their valid school IDs to avail of the free fares. But they will soon have to apply for a Student Free Ride ID which can be used in the MRT-3, LRT-2 and PNR. The applications for the ID can be filed online or at a Malasakit Help Desk in the train stations.

The DOTr did not disclose when the applications for the ID will start.

According to the transport agency, students will also be exempted from paying the passenger terminal fee (PTF) in all ports operated or owned by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

Besides students, also exempted from paying the PTF are senior citizens, persons with disabilities and active uniformed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and Philippine Coast Guard.

Airports supervised by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) will also exempt students from paying terminal fees. Students need only to present a valid school ID or an enrollment registration card to avail of the exemption.

The DOTr clarified airports not under the jurisdiction of CAAP will not be offering the exemption for students. The agency identified the airports as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport and Clark International Airport.