SPEAKER Martin Romualdez yesterday called for a motu proprio House investigation into reports that some senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) are being denied discounts as provided under existing laws, as he reminded business establishments to comply with the provisions of Republic Act (RA) No. 9994, or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, and RA 10754, or the Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of PWDs.
“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,” Romualdez said in calling for the probe.
“This is what we hope to achieve in this investigation: to clarify the law and correct all their misconceptions and wrong implementation. Seniors and PWDs have a lot of questions so we’ll give them a chance to ask when the hearing starts,” the Speaker said.
Romualdez cited the reported policy of the Starbucks chain to limit the 20 percent discount and exemption from the 12 percent value added tax to only one food item and one drink per visit for seniors and PWDs.
Just last month, the Pasig City Prosecutors Office filed two cases against two officials of the Marco Polo Hotel for declining to grant a 20 percent discount to a senior citizen. They were charged for violating two senior citizen laws: Section 4 (a)(7) of RA 9994 and Article 116 of Republic Act 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines.
“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.
The Speaker is the principal author of RA 10754, which exempts more than 1.9 million PWDs from the 12 percent VAT on certain goods and services. This is on top of the 20 percent discount PWDs enjoy under RA 9442, or the law that amended and expanded the coverage of RA 7277, or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons.
CARE PROGRAM FOR THE ELDERLY
Meanwhile, Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan (PL, Bicol Saro) urged the House leadership to pass a law institutionalizing a national long-term care program for senior citizens to enable them to lead “dignified, healthy and secured lives” since many of them can no longer support themselves financially.
Under Yamsuan’s House Bill (HB) 7980, or the proposed Long-Term Care for Senior Citizens Act, senior citizens shall be specifically targeted in livelihood programs, social insurance, and other means of financial support schemes under the bill to protect them from loss of income and unemployment due to old age.
HB 7980, which Yamsuan filed with Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, also provides for the social development of seniors, such as lifelong learning and non-formal education programs and other “mainstreaming activities” that will allow them to remain actively engaged in community activities.
“The bill also ensures that integrated and innovative elderly-focused social services are made available at the local level, with emphasis on disease prevention as well as preventive, curative and rehabilitative healthcare,” Yamsuan said.
He said such services shall include providing home nursing services, and hospice care and medical and psychological support for frail and dependent elderly citizens.
Under the proposal, the program shall be jointly implemented by the Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Health (DOH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), local government units (LGUs), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The latest census conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in 2020 placed the total number of Filipinos aged 60 years and above at 9.22 million.
As of 2023, the DSWD has validated 4.1 million as indigent senior citizens.
