Marcos launches 50% fare discount for seniors. PWDs in Metro trains

Senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) have started getting a 50-percent fare discount in all train lines in Metro Manila - LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3.

- By BETHEENA UNITE and ARGYLL CYRUS GEDUCOS

This, after President Marcos launched the 50-percent fare discount for senior citizens and PWDs on Wednesday, July 16, at the MRT-3 Santolan-Annapolis Station.

It followed the launching of the 50-percent train fare discount for students in June.

"Noong nakaraan, nakapagbigay tayo ng diskwento sa ating mga students basta't magpakita ng student ID ay makakakuha sila ng 50 percent na discount (Previously, we were able to give a discount to our students-as long as they present a student ID, they can get a 50 percent discount)," Marcos said.

"Ngayon naman ay idadagdag natin sa grupong yun na mabibigyan ng 50 percent discount ang mga senior citizens at ang mga PWD (Now, we will include senior citizens and persons with disabilities who can avail of the 50 percent discount)," Marcos added.

According to the President, around 13 million senior citizens and seven million PWDs are expected to benefit from the 50-percent fare discount.

The initiative will increase the fare discount by 30 percent from the statutory discount of 20 percent for senior citizens and PWDs.

Dalian trains After 10 years of being idle, three China-made trains finally became operational on Wednesday, July 16.

President Marcos announced the start of the commercial operation of three Dalian trains which were among the trains purchased in 2014 from the Chinese firm CCRC Dalian Co.

Its full operation started Wednesday morning during the launch of the 50-percent fare discount for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in all train lines in Metro Manila-MRT-3, LRT1, and LRT-2.

"Nakabili tayo ng 48 na karwahe para sa tren. Mula ng 2014, hindi pa 'to nakatengga lang ito, hindi po nagamit (We were able to purchase 48 train coaches. Since 2014, they have just been sitting unused-they were never put to use)," Marcos said.