President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has granted all senior citizens and persons with disabilities in the country a 50% discount for rides in major railways in Metro Manila.

“Ang makikinabang dito sa programang ito ay siguro mga 13 milyong senior citizens atsaka 7 milyon na PWD,” Marcos announced during the launch of the discount program held at the MRT Santolan-Annapolis Station on Wednesday (July 16).

The half-fare privilege will be available on the MRT-3, LRT-1 and LRT-2 railway systems. The offer will be valid only until 2028, a few months after completing his six-year term as president.

Previously, the Marco administration granted a similar discount rate to students. Dedicated lanes were also reserved for them.

Public transport, including railways, are mandated under Republic Act No. 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 to extend 20 percent discounts on fare to senior citizens.

A separate law also extends the same fare cut to PWDs and students.

Meanwhile, Marcos also announced that the Dalian trains that were purchased by government in 2014 are now operational.

“Binalikan natin itong mga ito at tiniyak natin na kung anuman ang kailangang gawing para magamit ang Dalian trains na ito ay gawin na natin,” he told the audience at the MRT station.

The trains were purchased in 2014 by government only to find out that deliveries are incompatible to the MRT-3 line where these were to be assigned.

The Chinese firm CCRC Dalian Co. agreed to modify the trains, with the help of Japanese and German firms that conducted thorough inspection.

Several of the 48 Dalian trains have already been deployed on regular basis. Others were expected to be operational soon.
Each train has a capacity of 1,200 passengers and reduces passenger waiting time from four minutes to just 2 1/2 minutes.