On Monday, Speaker Martin Romualdez asked Congress to probe businesses ignoring discounts meant for seniors and people with disabilities (PWD).
Romualdez emphasized that the price reductions for senior citizens and persons with disabilities are mandated by law, specifically under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 and the Act Expanding Benefits for PWDs, and must be strictly enforced.
“Laws granting benefits to our senior citizens and PWDs should be strictly followed and implemented. And if there are several instances of the improper grant of these privileges and benefits, it becomes the common practice. So it cannot remain unchecked,” said Romualdez, one of the principal authors of RA 10754, in a statement.
“This is what we hope to achieve in this investigation, to clarify the law and correct all their misconceptions and wrong implementation,” he added.
Romualdez pointed to a well-known cafe’s rule limiting seniors and PWDs to a 20% discount and VAT exemption on just a single food item and one beverage each visit.
He also stated that the Pasig City Prosecutors Office has charged two hotel executives in Pasig City with allegedly refusing to give a senior citizen a 20% discount.
“Flagrant violations of the laws that grant benefits to our senior citizens and PWDs are trending topics on social media these past few months. It is high time that the House of Representatives review the implementation of these laws and find out if business establishments are complying with every provision,” Romualdez said.
“Until our probe is completed, we urge local authorities and government agencies to step up and ensure the proper and effective implementation of discounts granted to seniors and PWDs across businesses and service providers in the country,” he added.
Businesses rejecting PWD and senior citizen discounts to face probe
Romualdez called on the DSWD and NCDA to confirm that important legislation is carried out effectively.
The Health Department acknowledges these disabilities for a PWD ID card:
- Psychosocial disability: Encompasses conditions like bipolar disorder, depression, ADHD, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and other persistent mental or behavioral problems.
- Disability from chronic disease: Covers lasting impairments like bone issues from cancer, vision loss due to diabetes, and other long-term ailments.
- Learning disability: Involves difficulties with processing information which affects skills like math, reading, and writing.
- Visual disability: Having trouble seeing isn’t enough for a PWD ID. You need a vision problem that glasses can’t fix and a doctor’s note confirming the vision limits.
- Orthopedic/Musculoskeletal disability: People with small stature or missing limbs, including those with a curved spine, are eligible.
- Mental/Intellectual disability
- Hearing disability
- Speech impairment
- Multiple disabilities
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