By Aerol John Pateña/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — A total of 1,698 students have so far availed of free rides on various railway systems in Metro Manila during its first day of implementation on Monday.
In an advisory, the management of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) announced that 328 students were able to take the free train rides from 5 a.m. to 6:30 a.m.
Students up to college level as well as those taking technical and vocational courses can avail free MRT rides from 5 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. during weekdays.
“The students only presented their school ID or registration forms to our station personnel or security guards along the service gates for the pilot run of the Student Free Ride Program,” the MRT-3’s advisory read.
Meanwhile, the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) said 1,009 students availed free train ride tickets to the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) from 4:30 am to 6:30 am.
Free LRT-2 rides are being offered to the students from 4:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays except holidays.
On the other hand, a total of 361 students avail of the free rides offered by the Philippine National Railways (PNR) from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m.
Students may avail the free PNR rides from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. during weekdays.
A commuters’ welfare group lauded the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for its initiative to grant students free rides on public transportation.
“We are grateful to the DOTr for granting free rides to the students. That’s a very laudable move to the advantage of the commuting public,” said Ariel Inton, president of the Lawyers for Commuter Safety and Protection.
Inton said the Student Free Ride Program is a welcome development following the decision of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to grant students a 20 percent fare discount from Monday to Sunday including summer breaks and holidays through a memorandum issued last 2017.
“We suggest to the DOTr that the Student Free Ride Program should include weekends as well similar to the LTFRB memorandum. This will ensure that more students will be able to avail of the free rides,” he stated.
In a press briefing last week, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade explained that the schedules of the free rides are aimed to encourage students to go to school early and ease traffic congestion during rush hours.
Students have to register online to the websites of the DOTr, MRT-3 and LRTA to avail of the Student Free Ride ID. They may likewise apply for such ID at DOTr help desks located at the MRT, PNR and LRT-2 stations.
The students will also not be charged terminal fees in all airports and ports across the country.
Terminal fees will be waived for students in airports starting August 1 while terminal fees in ports are free beginning July 16, according to the DOTr.
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