Holy Week and summer are almost here, and lots of Filipinos are getting ready for their trips. On the latest ‘CIA with BA,’ viewers sent in their questions about what they can and can’t do during their time off.
First up was Ross from Manila. He asked, “My friends and I are going to the beach. We’re all students with IDs, so can we use our student discount to buy bus tickets this summer?”
Atty. Matt Cesa said the discount still counts: “The LTFRB says, and the new student discount law says, you can use the discount from Monday to Sunday, even on holidays, sem breaks, or summer breaks.”
He also pointed out that students taking master’s, doctorate, law, or medicine degrees don’t get the discount.
Next, Daniel from Quezon City wondered if he could use his service incentive leave (SIL) to make his family vacation longer since his regular leave wasn’t enough. “Can I use my service incentive leave so my vacation doesn’t have to end so soon?” he asked.
Atty. Rafael Rivera replied, “Yes, as long as your boss has already given you service incentive leave. The law doesn’t say you can only use it for certain things. If your employer says it’s okay, you can use it.”
Meanwhile, Edgar from Baler, Aurora, who’s traveling abroad for the first time, had a worry: “What should I do if I lose my passport?”
Atty. Bernadette Maybituin advised him not to panic and to follow these steps:
- Tell the nearest police station right away.
- Make an affidavit saying you lost it.
- Go to the closest Philippine embassy or consulate to ask for a new passport, an emergency passport, or a travel certificate.
Through their “Tanong ng Pilipino” segment, ‘CIA with BA’ keeps helping viewers understand their legal rights when they’re on vacation. Whether you’re traveling or just relaxing, it’s good to know your stuff and be ready.
‘CIA with BA’ is keeping up the work of the late Senator Rene Cayetano and airs every Sunday at 11:00 p.m. on GMA7, with replays on GTV the following Saturday at 10:30 p.m.
