(INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA)
MANILA, Philippines — The Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) and Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) will offer free rides to veterans next week as part of the observance of the Philippine Veterans Week from April 5 to 11.
In separate posts on Facebook, the operators of LRT-2 and MRT-3 said that veterans would only need to present their valid Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) identification card to avail of the week-long free ride.
Both rail lines also said that one companion of the veteran may also enjoy the free ride.
“This free ride by the LRTA [Light Rail Transit Authority] is to pay tribute to and recognize the sacrifice […] of our veterans,” the LRTA said in Filipino in its post.
“MRT-3 recognizes the important contributions to our society of all World War II veterans. That’s why we want to honor and thank our veterans even in a simple way. This is the offering of a free ride for a week for them and one of their companions,” Department of Transportation (DOTr) Assistant Secretary for Railways officer-in-charge Jorjette Aquino was quoted as saying in DOTr’s own post.
According to the PVAO, the following persons are classified as veterans:
- Rendered military service in the land, sea or air forces of the Philippines during the revolution against Spain, the Philippine American War & World War II; including Filipino Citizens who served with the Allied Forces in Philippine Territory.
- Member of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces sent to the Korean War and the Philippine Civic Action Group sent to the Vietnam War; and
- Rendered military service in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and has been honorably discharged or retired after at least six years total cumulative active service (or 20 years pursuant to Republic Act No. 9396 for those who rendered military service starting 18 March 2007) or sooner separated while in the active in the AFP due to death or disability arising from a wound or injury received or sickness or disease incurred in the line of duty.