PWDs want legal word on

sea travel discount denial

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, August 3 (PIA)—While the law provides that double discounts do not apply on promotional fares for persons with disabilities, would the case against OceanJet of the Ocean Fast Ferries Corporation denying them the legally mandated 20% discount on domestic sea and air travel hold water?

This sums up the general concern of PWDs and senior citizens who feel they have been shortchanged because the shipping company denies them the fare discount because, as OceanJet claims, their fares are on promo.

During the opening program for the National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week in July, PWDs complained to government agencies concerned because Ocean Fast Ferries Corporation (OceanJet) accordingly denies them the mandatory 20% discount as provided by the Republic Act 10754 or the Act expanding the benefits and privileges of PWDs.

According to several PWDs, OceanJet claims their fare rates are already reflecting the Libre Balik Promo, when one buys a ticket.

LibreBalik Promo accordingly puts up P800 for the two way trips, while it collects P500 for one way tickets.

In the Tagbilaran-Cebu sea route, another shipping company, SuperCat charges P500 one way, while another company; Island Water collects P475 for one way.

Both Supercat and Island Water grants the mandatory 20% to PWDs and senior citizens SC. 

But, as to OceanJet, with their promo, PWDs want to know how much is their base far as approved by government regulating bodies, because they said by offering the promo to everyone, the PWDs who are already disadvantaged, would now be counted like any ordinary passenger.

Observers also noted that if the P500 one way would be exacted the mandatory discount, PWDs would only be paying P400 for one way, one they could not claim.

With this, the underprivileged sector which has been denied a legally mandated privilege is now ineligible, that they want to be clarified on this.

Unconfirmed information however said that a case has already been filed in court about this, if only for the case to be a basis for PWDs to act on their concern.

As this continued, PWDs hope they can be appraised as to the status so that they can be guided. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

PWDs on sea travel noted that a shipping company has been denying them their discounted privilege, claiming that the promo fare already as the discount reflected. The Promo fair however applies to all. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)