Karapatan ng mga senior citizen sa discount sa online transaction

ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta @Magtanong Kay Attorney | September 1, 2024

Nitong nakalipas na pandemya, hindi lingid sa kaalaman ng lahat na marami sa ating mga kababayan ang umasa sa pamimili ng kanilang mga pangangailangan sa pamamagitan ng online transaction. 

Ito ay nagpatuloy pa rin sa kasalukuyan dahil sa kaginhawahan na hindi na kailangan pang lumabas ang ating mga senior citizen upang bumili ng ilan sa kanilang mga pangangailangan.  Ang tanong ngayon ay may karapatan ba ang ating mga senior citizen na mabigyan ng diskwento sa mga bagay na kanilang binili online? 

Nakasaad sa Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, Series of 2022, o kilala bilang “Guidelines on the Provision of the Mandatory Statutory Benefits and Privileges of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities on their Purchases Through Online (E-Commerce) and Phone Calls/SMS,” na may petsang ika-6 ng Mayo 2022, ang anunsyo sa mga business establishment na sila ay kinakailangang sumunod sa batas at magbigay ng diskwento sa presyo ng mga angkop na mga goods at services na bibilhin ng mga senior citizen, at maging ng mga persons with disability (PWDs), kahit na ang mga ito ay bibilhin sa pamamagitan ng online transactions. 

Inilahad din sa nabanggit na circular ang mga sumusunod:

“Section 6. Mechanisms for the Availment of 20% and 5% Special Discount for Online Purchases of Senior Citizens and Persons with Disability. A Senior Citizen or a Person with Disability shall be entitled to the grant of 20% discount and 12% VAT-exempt of their purchase of goods and services; and 5% special discount for basic necessities and prime commodities provided herein, for their exclusive use and enjoyment.

1. General guidelines for availment

6.1. The Senior Citizen must present his/her Senior Citizen ID issued by the OSCA in the city or municipality where the senior citizen resides, or any Government-issued ID, which reflects the name, picture, date of birth and nationality of the senior citizen, and other pertinent requirements as prescribed in the succeeding provisions of this JMC. x x x 

If a purchaser is both a Senior Citizen and a Person with Disability, the purchaser shall only be allowed to avail either the discount for Senior Citizens or the discount for Person with Disability, and he/she shall present the relevant ID as required under the preceding paragraphs. x x x 

B. E-Commerce Purchases through the internet or online platform:

6.5 The Senior Citizen or Person with Disability must, prior to placement of order, declare to the online platform/merchant that he/she is a Senior Citizen or a Person with Disability. Upon confirmation of order/s, the Senior Citizen or Person with Disability must provide/attach a scanned copy/screenshot or image of his/her ID, as explained in paragraph 6.1 of this JMC.

In addition, the following shall also be attached by the Senior Citizen or the Person with Disability upon placement of the order:

6.5.1. For purchases of medicines, copy of the medical prescription, copy of the front page and last entry page of the Senior Citizen/ Person with Disability purchase booklet.

6.5.2. For purchases of basic necessities and prime commodities, copy of the front page and last entry page of the Senior Citizen/ Person with Disability purchase booklet for commodities.

Malinaw sa mga nabanggit na probisyon na kinakailangang ideklara ng senior citizen bago siya bumili na siya ay isang senior citizen at kinakailangan niyang maglakip ng kanyang pagkakakilanlan bilang isang senior citizen, maging ang angkop na booklet para sa gamot o para sa mga ibang pangangailangan, katulad ng groceries.

Pagpapatuloy ng nasabing circular, ang tungkulin ng senior citizen na magpresenta ng pagkakakilanlan, alinsunod sa mga sumusunod: 

“6.6. Upon delivery of the goods/orders or performance of the service purchased through the online platform the Senior Citizen or the Person with Disability, or his/her authorized representative, shall present the original copy of the Senior Citizen or the Person with Disability proof of entitlement which was attached during the confirmation of his/her order/s together with the authorization letter, if applicable.

6.7. In the event that upon delivery of the goods/orders or performance of the service, the Senior Citizen, Person with Disability, or his/her authorized representative failure to present the Senior Citizen/ Person with Disability ID, or any government issued ID, as proof of discount entitlement and authorization letter, if applicable, the concerned platform/merchant may charge the Senior Citizen and the Person with Disability the full amount of the goods/orders or service.”

Ang hindi pagtupad ng isang senior citizen na ipakita ang mga dokumentong nabanggit ay mangangahulugan na hindi niya magagamit ang pribilehiyong ipinagkakaloob ng batas. Ibig sabihin, babayaran niya ang kabuuang halaga ng bagay na binili.