Student refused discount by jeepney driver, ordered to alight

A jeepney driver refused to give the mandated discount to a student and ordered her to get off the vehicle along the highway in Antipolo, according to Mariz Umali’s “24 Oras” report on Thursday.

Student Rachel Urbano shared her “traumatic” experience on social media.

“I gave an exact fare of P15 papuntang school. And sinabi niya po short ako ng P5. Sinabi ko po na calmly na P15 po yun without student discount nga po yung P15. Ang sabi niya hindi raw P20 talaga,” Urbano said.

“Nagsignal po siya sa driver na istop yung jeep and binibigay niya po yung bayad niya sa akin na P15 tapos naghihint po siya na bumaba na po ako ng jeep. Bale after po nun nag-away na po kami non eh,” she added.

Urbano said she insisted not to get off the jeep since the incident happened along the highway.

She said this was not the first time she experienced not being given a student discount.

“Kahit po senior citizen may naencounter din po ako na dalawang senior po na umalma din po sa pamasahe, iniintimidate po nila. Hindi po sila nagiistop until po bigay mo yung P5 na additional na hinihingi nila,” she said.

“It means a lot din po kasi lalo na po ako na six times a week po akong pumapasok, it adds up po talaga sa daily commute ko which takes a lot po on the budget,” she added.

Based on the Republic Act No. 11314 or Student Fare Discount Act signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte, students are privileged for a 20% discount in public transportation.

“Kapag ang driver tumanggi sa isang tao lalo na ang estudyante, PWD may penalty na agad yun P5,000 dahil dun nakalagay sa kanilang franchise alam naman nila ‘yan pero bakit dapat hindi nila ginagawa ‘yan. Hindi tama po ‘yan,” Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) communications group head Jefferson Tumbado said.

GMA Integrated News went to PUJ Central Office in Marcos Highway where Urbano rode, and showed the plate number of the jeepney.

However, members of the group Modernized Transport Service Corporation said the said driver was not their member.

“May mga PUJ mga jeep din na dumadaan along Marcos Highway kumakanan ng Imelda Avenue, dyan sila kumukuha ng pasahero. So, dito sa amin hindi namin tinotolerate ng ganun kasi ‘yun nga napakalaki ng multa. Pagmay nangyayari na ganyan sinususpende namin,” Herminio Lazo, president of Modernized Transport Service Corporation in Binangonan, Sta. Lucia, Marcos Highway, said.

The LTFRB said it would look into the matter to determine if it merits cancellation of the franchise of the concerned driver.—Richa Noriega/LDF, GMA Integrated News