SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez today urged business establishments to obey laws granting discounts, benefits and other privileges to millions of senior citizens, persons with disability (PWDs) and solo or single parents.
The leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives made the appeal as he lauded the move of popular coffee chain Starbucks offering a 40-percent discount to elderly, PWDs and medal of valor awardees, among other beneficiaries.
The 40-percent discount, which is 15-percentage points higher than the legally mandated 20 percent, was good only last Wednesday.
He also welcomed the offer of San Miguel Corp. (SMC) of a 20-percent discount to the elderly and PWDs for the use of its skyway system in Metro Manila and its expressways in northern Luzon and southern Luzon.
“I am sure the operators of other expressways will match the gesture of Ramon S. Ang’s San Miguel Corp.,” he said.
He asked the tollway operators and concerned government agencies to release the details of the offer so it would soon be enjoyed by senior citizens and PWDs patronizing the skyways and expressways.
“We appreciate the gesture of Starbucks. It gives meaning to its apology given to three House committees for what they acknowledged as its ‘mistake.’ We also value their promise to henceforth fully support the discounts and benefits of those covered. We appeal to other establishments to follow suit,” Romualdez said.
He was referring to the signage Starbucks posted in all its stores last week limiting the 20-percent discount of the elderly and PWDs to “one food item and one beverage.”
Numerous complaints received by the Office of the Speaker on the limitation prompted him to order three House committees to launched an inquiry into “gaps and confusion” in the implementation of laws granting discounts, benefits and other privileges to more than 35 million senior citizens, PWDs and solo parents.
During the panels’ hearing on Tuesday, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, who is presiding over the investigation as ways and means committee chairman, read the names of more than 100 violators, among them malls, supermarkets, airlines, bakeshops, hotels, drugstores, and food and transportation service providers.
Romualdez warned non-compliant establishments that he and the House would not hesitate to exercise their oversight power to force compliance.
“We have granted these privileges to our people, and we will see to it that those covered receive them. Entities that are not granting the discounts and other benefits will be exposed and compelled to comply with the laws. We will also not hesitate to initiate prosecution,” he added.
