Discounts Given to Senior Citizens and PWDs to Stack with Promos
Discounts given to senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) will be added on top of ongoing promotions or sale offers, if a new bill filed by Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez becomes law. This move seeks to guarantee that these vulnerable groups benefit from both government-mandated discounts and store promotions simultaneously.
Romualdez, together with Tingog party-list Reps. Jude Acidre and Andrew Julian Romualdez, submitted House Bill No. 16. The bill mandates that the 20 percent discount for seniors and PWDs, along with the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) exemption, must be applied regardless of existing promotional prices on products and services.
Current Gaps in Senior and PWD Discounts
At present, many businesses exclude senior or PWD discounts when the items are already subject to a promotional discount. This practice often limits the benefits these groups receive, especially when prices are already reduced during sales.
“This bill aims to preserve the preferential treatment accorded to senior citizens and persons with disabilities by mandating the State to adopt an integrated approach on how to make essential programs and other social services available to them in an attainable and convenient manner,” the bill’s explanatory note outlined. It further emphasized that the policy aligns with the State’s goal to foster a just and dynamic society that promotes prosperity and reduces poverty.
Legal Amendments Proposed
If enacted, the bill will amend or repeal certain sections of existing laws, including:
- Section 4 of Republic Act No. 7432 (Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010), concerning promotional discounts;
- Section 32 of Republic Act No. 7277 (Magna Carta for Disabled Persons), regarding higher discounts by commercial establishments;
- Section 32(j) of Republic Act No. 9442, amending the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons;
- Section 4(1) of Republic Act No. 9257, which grants additional privileges to senior citizens.
The bill clearly states that the standard 20 percent discount and VAT exemption for seniors and PWDs will be applied in addition to any promotional discounts offered by businesses.
Balancing Interests Between Consumers and Businesses
To address business concerns, the measure provides that the 20 percent discount and VAT exemption for these groups will be treated as deductible expenses under the National Internal Revenue Code. This approach aims to balance the benefits for seniors and PWDs while considering the financial implications for business establishments.
Rep. Romualdez is also the principal author of Republic Act No. 10754, which expanded benefits for persons with disabilities, including VAT exemption on select goods and services. Signed into law in 2016, it helped millions of PWDs access essential items more affordably.
Government Efforts to Increase Discounts
During his term as House Speaker in the 19th Congress, Romualdez championed several initiatives to improve welfare for seniors and PWDs. In February 2024, he met with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) officials who expressed openness to requests for increasing discounts for these groups.
Previously, seniors and PWDs could enjoy a weekly grocery discount capped at ₱65, based on a 5 percent discount for purchases up to ₱1,300. Lawmakers, including Romualdez, proposed raising the cap to ₱2,500, which would provide a ₱125 weekly discount or ₱500 monthly savings.
Voices Calling for Greater Support
The push for higher discounts gained traction after former Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Wilter Palma shared his experience of being limited to a ₱65 discount despite a large grocery bill. According to Joint DTI-DA Administrative Order No. 10-02 series of 2010, seniors currently receive a 5 percent discount on groceries, capped at a total purchase amount of ₱1,300 per calendar week.
As the bill moves forward, advocates hope these changes will make essential goods and services more accessible and affordable to senior citizens and PWDs nationwide.
For more news and updates on discounts given to senior citizens and PWDs, visit Filipinokami.com.