Marcos launches 50% train fare discount for senior citizens, PWDs
QUEZON CITY,—President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. launched a 50% train fare discount for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) on Wednesday, July 16, at the Metro Rail Transit 3 Santolan-Annapolis Station, expanding existing student discounts to benefit an estimated 20 million Filipinos.
The program, announced during the 47th National Disability Week observance from July 17 to 23, and covers LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3, extends the half-price fare policy already available to students with valid identification cards. The discount is applicable every day, including weekends and holidays.
“We previously provided discounts to our students who can get a 50% discount by showing their student ID. Now we’re adding senior citizens and PWDs to that group,” Marcos said during the launch ceremony at the southbound station along EDSA.
The President estimated that 13 million senior citizens and seven million PWDs would benefit from the discount program across the metro rail system.
“We know that these groups –students, PWDs, senior citizens –really need our help because their income is very limited,” Marcos said, explaining the rationale behind the expanded discount policy.
During the event, Marcos also announced the deployment of previously unused train cars purchased from China in 2014.
The President said 48 Dalian train cars, named after the Chinese city where they were manufactured, had remained unused for nearly a decade due to technical issues.
“Since 2014, these have just been sitting unused,” Marcos said. “We went back to these and ensured that whatever needs to be done to use these Dalian trains would be completed.”
Likewise, the President said three trains composed of three cars each –totaling nine cars –are now operational and were being tested for the first time Tuesday. He indicated that efforts continue to bring the remaining cars into service.
“It’s gratifying that our funds weren’t wasted,” Marcos said, noting that the trains will help improve commuter experiences, particularly for senior citizens, PWDs and students.
The fare discount program aims to make public transportation more accessible for vulnerable populations amid rising living costs and limited income opportunities for affected groups.
