Our Time Solon seeks better compliance on online discounts for PWDs and senior citizens House bill bolsters nutrition, wellness program for elderly

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

The house of Representatives approved Wednesday a bill strengthening the government’s national health program for senior citizens through a comprehensive nutrition and wellness program to prevent poor nutrition among the elderly and illnesses related to it.

By Filane Mikee Cervantes

MANILA—The House Com- mittee on Senior Citizens will look into the compliance levels with the mandated discounts for online purchases of senior citizens (SCs) and persons with disabilities (PWDs), its chairperson said on Thursday.

In a statement, Senior Citizen Party-list Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes Jr. said his panel would invite government agencies and firms providing e-commerce platforms and mobile applications to attend their hearings to determine the implementation status of the mandatory discounts given to senior citizens and PWDs in online transactions.

“It is necessary to find out the compliance levels for both online transactions and real-world sales, so we can find ways to plug loopholes encountered during implementation,” Ordanes said.

Ordanes noted that current compliance levels are “not where they should be” because some apps do not meet the 20 percent discount based on the purchase of the seniors.

“Some discount vouchers being given do not go up to 20 percent. Some are at P60 only. Worse, some online sellers and platforms are not giving the discounts at all,” he said.

Ordanes said there should be a verification process for mobile appli- cations or e-commerce platforms to verify the identification card number of the senior citizen of PWD.

“For online transactions, there should be a quick way for the mobile apps or platforms to verify the PWD identification…numbers presented before delivery riders are dispatched to the location of the persons who placed orders. This is the crucial part that requires compliance with the Know Your Customer rules and interface with a database of verified PWD numbers and IDs,” Ordanes said.

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. has reiterated in a statement that the discounts on purchases made online by senior citizens and persons with disabilities are mandatory.

“Online platforms should recognize the mandatory discounts given to senior citizens and persons with disabilities. The BIR has issued Revenue Regulation 8-2023 to this effect,” Lumagui said in a statement.

“The signature of the SC/PWD is not needed if the purchase is made through online means. The SC/PWD Identification card number should still be provided,” he added.

Lumagui, however, stressed that the SC/PWD Identification Card number should still be provided by the SC/PWD when purchasing through online or mobile platforms. PNA

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The chamber has approved on third and final reading House Bill 8461 amending Republic Act (RA) 7432 or the Senior Citizens Act, as amended, with a vote of 266.

The bill will be transmitted to the Senate for its own deliberations.

“This bill is a testament to the commitment of the House of Representatives to support legislation that will improve the lives of the Filipino people, especially our elderly and senior citizens, who truly deserve recognition and protection for their years of service to the nation,” Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said.

Romualdez said this comprehensive program aims to promote and protect the right of senior citizens to health and instill consciousness about the need for their health and proper nutrition.

“House Bill 8461 particularly mandates the National Nutrition Council, Department of Health, and local government units [LGUs] to prepare a comprehensive nutrition and wellness program to serve as a guide for senior citizens to nutritionally balanced meals that can prevent conditions related to poor nutrition,” Romualdez said.

The proposed legislation also requires the local government units, through the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs, to integrate the com- prehensive nutrition and wellness program into their respective programs for senior citizens.

Reps. Rodolfo M. Ordanes, Jane T. Castro, Ruth Mariano-Hernandez, Rachel Marguerite B. Del Mar, Ma. Victoria Co-Pilar, Milagros AquinoMagsaysay, Eulogio R. Rodriguez, Jose Maria R. Zubiri Jr., Gabriel H. Bordado Jr., Salvador A. Pleto, and Romulo Peña Jr. are co-authors of the bill.