President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday led the launch of the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) 50 percent discount for senior citizens and persons with disability (PWDs) using LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3.

“Noong nakaraan nakapagbigay tayo ng diskwento sa ating mga students basta’t magpakita ng student ID ay makakapag – makakapagkuha sila ng 50 percent na discount,” President Marcos said in his remarks during the launch at the MRT-3 Santolan Station.

“Ngayon naman ay idadagdag natin sa grupong ‘yun na mabibigyan ng 50 percent discount ang mga senior citizens at ang mga PWD,” the President told a group of senior citizens who cheered him after hearing the announcement.

Starting June 20, the DOTr offered a 50 percent fare discount for LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 to all students, following instructions from President Marcos.

The fare discounts are in fulfillment of the President’s directive to ease the financial burden of commuters.

The new initiative for senior citizens and PWDs has increased the fare discount from 20 percent to 50 percent. The discount will take effect from today.

After the launch, the President went inside one of the Dalian trains, which arrived minutes before he completed his remarks.

Senior citizens joined the President in boarding the train.

Once inside the train coach, President Marcos interacted with the senior citizens, shaking their hands and hugging several of them. Other senior citizens cheered the President, who disembarked before the train left for the next station.

Among the government officials who attended the launch were DOTr Secretary Vivencio Dizon, General Manager Michael Capati of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), and Acting Secretary Dave M. Gomez of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO). ǀ PND