A consumer does the grocery shopping at a local grocery store in this file photo taken in October 2023. (File photo by聽 MARIANNE BERMUDEZ / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philipines 鈥� After being accused by some sectors of failing to go after violators, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) clarified on Monday that making sure that establishments apply the 20 percent discount for senior citizens was not part of its mandate.
Trade Assistant Secretary Amanda Nograles, the DTI鈥檚 Consumer Protection Group spokesperson, told reporters that the task belonged to the , which was under the supervision of local governments, and the , under the Office of the President.
鈥淭he role of the DTI concerning senior citizens鈥� discounts will be on the five percent special discount for basic necessities and prime commodities or BNPC, if senior citizens are buying from supermarkets and groceries,鈥� Nograles said.
Under Republic Act No. 9994, otherwise known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, Filipinos aged 60 and above are entitled to a 20 percent discount and exempted from the value-added tax on selected goods and services that are for their exclusive use.
According to Nograles, the DTI continues to accept and receive complaints about establishments that ignore RA 9994 under its 鈥渘o-wrong-door policy鈥� and then refers these cases to relevant agencies.
She reported that last year, they received 136 such complaints although most of the cases did not fall under the DTI鈥檚 mandate.
Asked whether the senior citizen discounts was applicable to goods and services under a promotional sale, Nograles said that they could pick only one.
鈥淭he senior citizen has the right to choose what is favorable to them鈥攖he 20 percent or the promotional sale. The supermarket cannot impose its option on what is best for the senior,鈥� she added. Earlier, political analyst Ronaldo Llamas, also an adviser to the late President Benigno Aquino III, criticized the DTI over numerous cases of establishments that he claimed refused to honor the 20 percent discount for seniors.
鈥淭he DTI should be [at] the front line. These are consumer issues. And it seems like they are not doing anything. This is a small but widespread concern for seniors,鈥� Llamas said in an online interview.