DTI reminds public of rules on 20% discount for senior citizens, PWDs

Acting on some complaints at the onset of the Yuletide season, the Department of Trade and Industry is reminding businesses of the rules governing the 20% discount in the availment of goods and services by senior citizens and persons with disability(PWDs).

Citing Republic Act No. 9994 or the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010,” the DTI said that “in the purchase of goods and services which are on promotional discount, the senior citizen can avail of the establishment’s offered discount or the 20% discount provided herein, whichever is higher and more favorable.”

“Nais naming bigyang-diin ang salitang ginamit na ‘OR’ kasabay ng mga iba pang parirala kung saan binibigyan ang senior citizen at ang person with disability ng dalawang (2) pagpipilian, kung alin ang magbibigay sa kanya ng mas malaking diskwento. Maliwanag din sa naturang probisyon na hindi pinapayagan ang SC/PWD ang magkasabay na pag-avail nito,” said Domingo R. Tolentino, director for the Consumer Protection and Advocacy Bureau (CPAB) of the DTI in an email correspondence with GMA News Online.

Director Abrenica also pointed out that when a senior citizen is also a PWD, he or she can only use either his or her OSCA-issued ID card or the PWD ID.

It goes the same with a PWD who also happens to be a senior citizen. The PWD can only use either his or her PWD ID Card or Senior Citizen ID card to avail of the 20% discount.

“Malugod din naming ipinapaalam na ang hindi pagpapahintulot sa ‘double discounting’ ay ipinapatupad lamang sa mga produkto at mga serbisyong nasa ilalim ng isang ‘promotion’,” Director Abrenica added. —LBG, GMA News