DTI Urges Online Merchants to Grant Discounts for Senior Citizens and PWDs

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) aims to grant discounts to senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) when transacting online. “Online shopping platforms need to reprogram their offering to incorporate a feature that allows discounts for persons with disabilities and senior citizens,” noted Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.

Additionally, the DTI further pushed online platforms to adopt its “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 Call/SMS.” Among these entails the improvement of systems or applications of e-commerce platforms to guarantee that the necessary discounts are provided.

Republic Act (RA) 9257 and RA 9442 entitle senior citizens and PWDs to a 20% discount, along with a 12% value-added tax (VAT) exemption, for specific goods and services as well as a 5% special discount for basic necessities and prime commodities. “The redesign may include the establishment’s acceptance of the senior citizen or PWD’s submission of his or her ID,” The DTI explained. “And the use of discount vouchers or codes, whether physical or electronic, reflecting the applicable discount that may be granted, provided that the discount shall not be lower than what is prescribed under the guidelines, or any applicable law.”

Online merchants should grant senior citizens and PWDs discounts after these individuals submit the appropriate documents such as a scanned copy or screenshot of their ID. The buyers should, likewise, present the same documents once orders have been delivered. “The Department reminds senior citizens and persons with disabilities to only purchase from verified online platforms to avoid having their personal details used for other purposes,” added Ruth Castelo, DTI-Consumer Protection Group Undersecretary.

Source: PhilStar