GRANTING OF TRANSPORT FARE DISCOUNT TO ALL SENIOR CITIZENS

On February 26, 2004, Republic Act No. 9257, known as “An Act
Granting Additional Benefits and Privileges to Senior Citizens, Amending
for the Purpose Republic Act No. 7432, otherwise known as An Act to
Maximize the Contribution of Senior Citizens to Nation Building, Grant
Benefits and Special Privileges and for other Purposes.” To implement
said law, the corresponding Rules and Regulations (IRR) have been issued
by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and portion of
said IRR reads:

RULE V
PRIVILEGES FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS

Article 7. Privileges for the Senior Citizens. – The senior citizens shall be entitled to the following:

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Section 11. Public Land Transportation Privileges. – Twenty percent
(20%) discount in public railways, including LRT, MRT, PNR, Skyways and
fares in buses (PUB), jeepneys (PUJ), taxi and shuttle services (AUV)
shall be granted for the exclusive use and enjoyment of senior citizens.

The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Light
Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), Philippine National Railways (PNR), Toll
Regulatory Board (TRB) and Land Transportation Franchising and
Regulatory Board (LTFRB) shall issue corresponding circulars or
directives to the public land transport sector for the implementation of
these rules to ensure compliance herewith, as well as requirements to
these operators to disseminate information on the benefits of the senior
citizens by posters, handbills or pamphlets on board their vehicles.

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However, it appears that only PUJs and PUBs have been granting fare
discounts to senior citizens pursuant to the fare guidelines approved
by the Board.

Hence, in compliance with the above-cited law and consistent with
Section 5 (k) and (l) of Executive Order No. 202, the Board hereby
directs all public utility operators and drivers to grant 20% fare discount to all senior citizens who avail of their services under the following guidelines:

1. To avail of the fare discount, all senior citizens should
present their respective identification documents, as such as, but not
limited to:

a. Identification Card issued by the City or Municipal
Mayor/Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) or of the barangay
captain of the place where the senior citizen or the elderly resides.
b. Passport of the elderly person or senior citizen concerned; or
c. Other documents that establish that the senior citizen or
elderly is a Filipino citizen who is at least sixty (60) years of age.

2. In the case of taxi service, the full 20% discount on the
total taxi fare shall be given to the senior citizen regardless of the
number of his/her companions.

3. For the other modes of transport (PUB, PUJ, GT Express), the
20% discount shall be based on the amount of fare corresponding to the
senior citizen.

4. Any operator found in violation of this Circular shall be subjected to the following penalties:

First Offense – P2,500.00

Second Offense – P3,500.00

Third Offense – P5,000.00 and/or cancellation of franchise at the sole discretion of the Board

All other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby modified, amended, or superseded accordingly.

This Memorandum Circular shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

SO ORDERED.

Adopted: 01 April 2009

(SGD.) ALBERTO H. SUANSING Chairman
(SGD.) GERARDO A. PINILI Board Member	(SGD.) MA. ELLEN DIRIGE-CABATU Board Member