Senate ratifies bicam reports on Student Fare Discount, other bills

The Senate building at the GSIS Complex in Pasay City (Photo by LYN RILLON / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Wednesday ratified a bicameral conference committee report on the Student Fare Discount Act that imposes a 20 percent student fare discount all-year round.

Senate Bill 1597 seeks to institutionalize the student fare discount as enforced by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) even during weekends and holidays. The discount covers all means of transportation all-year round.

Once enacted into law, the measure will allow all Filipino students, from elementary to college and those enrolled in technical-vocational schools, to be entitled to a 20 percent discount in buses, jeepneys, taxis, tricycles, transport network vehicle services (TNVS), the Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT 3), Light Rail Transit (LRT) as well as airlines and passenger ships.

Under the bill, the discount for airfare will only be for domestic travel on regular fare on presentation of a duly issued school identification card or current validated enrollment form.

READ: Senate approves year-round student fare discount

The Senate also ratified the bicameral committee report on disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill No. 1532 and House Bill No. 8862 — the Innovative Start-Up Act.

Once it becomes law, the measure will allow innovative startups to enjoy exemption from fees and charges for the use of equipment, facilities and other services from government agencies, such as testing and fabrication facilities.

It also offers a provision for Ten Billion-Peso Innovative Startup Venture Fund, administered by the Department of Science and Technology, for entrepreneurs.

Finally, Senate ratified and adopted the bicameral committee report on disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill No. 1534 and House Bill No. 8734 — which seeks to amend the Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and other S&T Personnel in the Government.

The measure seeks to amend retirement and salary benefits for scientists and other science and technology personnel.

Once ratified by the Senate and the House of Representatives, the bills would then be transmitted to President Rodrigo Duterte for his signature. /atm/muf