Council pushes for stricter compliance on senior citizen discounts

The city has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of senior citizens by calling for stricter compliance and clearer guidelines on the implementation of mandatory senior citizen discounts.

This came after Resolution No. 15586-2025, authored by Councilor Gilda O. Go, chair of the committee on senior citizens, was adopted during the 22nd regular session of the 21st City Council.

The measure emphasizes the need for business establishments, particularly retail drugstores and service providers, to properly implement existing laws and administrative issuances to ensure that elderly citizens can fully enjoy their legally mandated benefits without unnecessary burdens.

One of the key clarifications underscored in the resolution is the removal of the purchase booklet requirement for senior citizens availing of the 20 percent discount on medicines.

This follows Department of Health Administrative Order No. 2024-0017, which states that senior citizens are no longer required to present purchase booklets to claim the said discount, Go added.

The resolution also reiterates the proper computation of discounts, stressing that the 12 percent Value-Added Tax (VAT) must first be deducted before applying the 20 percent senior citizen discount on medicines, meals, and transportation fares.

The Council noted that an incorrect computation diminishes the benefits intended by law for elderly citizens.

To ensure effective implementation, the City Council urged the Department of Health–Center for Health Development Northern Mindanao (DOH-CHDNM) and the Regulatory Compliance Board (RCB) to intensify monitoring and enforcement among all retail drugstores and business establishments operating in the city. (JAO/SP)