DTI clarifies mandate on senior citizen discount

MANILA – Following the discount complaints received from a number of senior citizen, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) clarified that its primary mandate only covers special discounts on basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPCs).

Trade Assistant Secretary for Consumer Protection Group Amanda Nograles on Sunday said the department had received complaints (136 to be exact) on establishments that refused to provide the 5 percent special discounts for senior citizens for BNPCs in grocery stores and supermarkets.

Nograles said that the DTI no longer covers complaints against establishments refusing to offer a 20 percent discount and the 12 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) exemption for senior citizens because these are under the power of the Office of the Senior Citizens Affair (OSCA) and National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC).

“The role or the primary mandate of the DTI is on the selling of BNPCs, the 5 percent special discount,” she said.

“To clarify, the 20 percent discount and VAT exemption of the senior citizens are actually under the OSCA and NCSC … for example, buying in drug stores or in other establishments,” she added.

Meanwhile, if an item is under promotional discount, Nograles reminded consumers that there is no such thing as a “double discount” provided under the Republic Act 9994, better known as the “Expanded Senior Citizen Act of 2010.”

Section 4 of the act states, “In the purchase of goods and services which are on promotional discount, the senior citizen can avail of the promotional discount or the discount provided herein, whichever is higher.”