Describing it as a "useless and additional burden" for senior citizens to avail of their 20% discount, House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo called for the removal of the purchase booklet requirement.
"I think we have to go away with the booklet because this is useless," Tulfo said on Tuesday during the resumption of hearing of the Committee of Ways and Means on the moto propio inquiry into the implementation and policies on discounts, incentives and tax exemptions for senior citizens and person with disabilities (PWDs).
"This is an insult to all the senior citizens kasi parang tinitingnan ng mga merchants ng mga business establishment na mga manloloko ang mga senior citizen natin kaya they have to own a booklet. Hindi pa ba enough yung kanilang mga senior citizen ID? The mere fact na mayroon silang senior citizen IDs it identifies them as a senior citizen," Tulfo stressed.
(This is an insult to all the senior citizens because it seems that the merchants of the business establishments see our senior citizens as frauds so they have to own a booklet. Are their senior citizen IDs not enough? The mere fact that they have senior citizen IDs identifies them as a senior citizen.)
Tulfo pointed out the majority of seniors tend to forget their booklets at home so were not given discounts by business establishments.
"Pangalawa yung laging duda, na niloloko kami ng matanda na ito na baka ibinebenta(yung binili nila). Will it close your business kapag may isang senior citizen na niloko kayo, hindi naman po 'di ba?," the lawmaker noted.
(Second is the constant doubt that the elderly will deceive them and they might just sell the items (they bought). Your business will not close when a senior citizen cheats on you, right?)
"This is full of crap, kailangan po siguro nating i-review itong law, once and for all. Kasi parang namamalimos ang mga senior citizen," Tulfo added.
Representative Milagros Aquino-Magsaysay of the United Senior Citizens partylist agreed with Tulfo's suggestion to scrap the booklet.
"I find it useless na ipakita ang booklet. Bakit pa kailangang ipakita kung ano purchase mo. Useless ang booklet," she said.
Albay lawmaker Joey Salceda also agreed with Tulfo, saying he hoped Tulfo will be included as a member of the technical working group (TWG) crafting a new law for senior citizens.
Aside from discounts from establishments, Tulfo also noted the suggestion of Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo to review and create a new policy for the senior citizen discount regarding online delivery services and ride-hailing applications.
"The law was passed more than 10 years ago. Naglabasan lamang itong mga Grab at mga hailing companies na ito during pandemic so hindi sila naisama sa batas natin. So there is really something wrong with this law and we have to review (it)," Tulfo said.—RF, GMA Integrated News
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