Manila: The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Saturday urged the government to approve the proposed 50-percent train fare discount for minimum wage earners. In a news release over the weekend, TUCP Party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza called on the Department of Transportation to help ease the expenses of low-income earners.
According to Philippines News Agency, Mendoza stated that it would be straightforward to verify workers’ employment records and pay slips to qualify for the discount. He emphasized the importance of not allowing the meager salaries of workers, which are primarily meant for food and housing, to be sacrificed for commuting expenses.
Currently, students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities can avail of a 50-percent fare discount on the Metro Rail Transit-3 and Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 systems until 2028. This discount is available to kindergarten to graduate school students, including those in the Alternative Learning System and Special Education programs.