The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has reiterated the importance of establishments allowing senior citizens to choose between their mandated discounts and promotional fares when making purchases. During a media briefing on January 5, Assistant Secretary Amanda Nograles of the Consumer Protection Group emphasized that double discounts for senior citizens should not be permitted.
Under Republic Act No. 9994, senior citizens are entitled to a 20 percent discount and exemption from value-added tax (VAT) on goods and services from all establishments. This includes a wide range of goods and services such as medicine, medical and dental services, transport fees, admission fees, funeral and burial costs, and more.
The issue of senior citizen discounts came into the spotlight when a senior citizen filed a complaint against a hotel in Pasig City for refusing to provide her with the discount and VAT exemption due to the establishment’s alleged lack of a permit for its promotional rates. Nograles pointed out that sales promotion campaigns must secure permission from the DTI under Republic Act No. 7394, the Consumer Act of the Philippines.
DTI Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual stated that the agency has received 136 complaints regarding senior citizen discounts, with most being referred to the Office of Senior Citizens’ Affairs (OSCA). Despite this, the DTI still assists senior citizens in filing cases and flagging establishments that have violated the law.
Failure to provide senior citizen discounts can result in fines ranging from P50,000 to P200,000, as well as imprisonment for two to six years, according to the Expanded Senior Citizens Act.
As a result, the DTI is actively working to ensure that senior citizens are able to enjoy the discounts and benefits to which they are entitled.
