Minimum Wage Earners Urge for 50 Percent Train Fare Discount
Minimum wage earners should benefit from a 50 percent train fare discount on Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 (LRT-1 and LRT-2) and the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), local leaders said. This measure aims to ease the financial strain of workers amid rising living costs.
Representatives stressed that while lawmakers have yet to finalize bills raising the minimum wage, immediate relief is necessary. “As we continue to relentlessly press both the Senate and the House of Representatives to urgently act on the pending legislated wage hike measures: We should come up with measures so that, as early as now, our workers can feel some comfort,” a House deputy speaker stated.
Financial Impact of the Fare Discount on Workers
Transportation officials were urged to consider this fare cut, especially since over a million minimum wage earners reside in Metro Manila alone. At the current fare of ₱35 per trip on LRT-2, commuters traveling six days a week spend ₱70 daily. A 50 percent discount would save them ₱210 weekly or ₱840 monthly.
“With a 50% discount, minimum wage earners can save as much as P840 a month or an extra P35 take-home pay every day. Every peso saved would go directly to the people’s dining tables so that they can serve better and more nutritious food for their families,” community members emphasized.
Previous Fare Discounts for Vulnerable Groups
Last July, the government granted a 50-percent fare discount to senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) on LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 during the 47th National Disability Week. This followed an earlier implementation of a similar discount for students aimed at reducing commuter expenses.
“Our students, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens truly need our help because their income is very limited. That’s why we thought of this program as something we can do to support our commuters who are PWDs and senior citizens,” officials reported.
By September, discounted Beep Cards will be available for these groups, allowing automatic application of the 50-percent fare discount across the major train lines.
Exclusion of Minimum Wage Earners from Discounts
Despite these efforts, minimum wage earners appear excluded from the fare discount programs. “But why are minimum wage earners left out? We can include Filipino workers. Indeed, Mr. Secretary, the last thing we want is for our workers to fall in long lines all the time just to avail of the discount,” local leaders remarked.
They proposed a simple system where workers could present a certificate of employment verifying their salary and receive special Beep cards for hassle-free discounted rides to and from work.
Legislative Progress on Minimum Wage Increase
In the 19th Congress, the House passed House Bill No. 11376 proposing a ₱200 daily wage increase for minimum wage earners. Meanwhile, the Senate approved a counterpart bill proposing a ₱100 increase. However, due to differences between the two versions, a bicameral conference committee was supposed to reconcile these discrepancies.
Unfortunately, reports indicated a deadlock between the chambers, and the session adjourned without ratification of a final wage hike bill.
New Wage Hike Proposals in the 20th Congress
With the new Congress convened, several lawmakers have refiled bills seeking to increase the minimum wage. The Makabayan bloc proposed a ₱1,200 daily minimum wage, while a senator filed a bill advocating a ₱250 across-the-board increase for private-sector workers.
As discussions continue, advocates emphasize the importance of immediate support through measures like the 50 percent train fare discount for minimum wage earners to alleviate daily expenses.
For more news and updates on minimum wage earners, visit Filipinokami.com.
