Senior Citizens Party-list Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes (Facebook)

House Committee on Senior Citizens Chairperson Senior Citizens Party-list Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes said he almost called for a boycott against Starbucks after it released a controversial advisory that sought to limit the use of senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWD) discounts at the popular coffee chain’s establishments.  

“Alam niyo ma’am, kung hindi ninyo binawi, inumpisahan ko na i-boycott ang Starbucks, totoo po ‘yun,” Ordanes told Starbucks Coffee Philippines Operations Director Angela Cole Wednesday, Jan. 17 during a House inquiry.

(You know ma'am, if you didn't take it back, I would have started boycotting Starbucks, that's the truth.)

Based on the Starbucks advisory, those availing the 20 percent discount will be restricted to only one food item and one drink per visit.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez earlier flagged this policy as an example of a flagrant violation of laws granting benefits to senior citizens and PWDs.

The popular coffee chain has said that the signages on the advisory were immediately removed, and that the guideline was never followed.

Nontheless, Starbucks admitted their mistake in front of the solons during the joint hearing of the Committees on Senior Citizens and on Ways and Means.

“It was not properly worded and we take full accountability and acknowledge the mistake and we are really disappointed with the confusion that we had caused because of the erroneous signage,” Cole said. 

“We fully acknowledge and remain steadfast in extending privileges as intended. To fully assure everyone here, Starbucks has and always will continue to extend full discount privileges to the senior citizens and PWDs for their personal use,” she continued.

ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro questioned Starbucks over its rationale for putting forward such a policy to its customers.

“Hindi pwedeng sabihin niyo lang na ‘Tatanggalin namin yan.' Actually, ang mahal mahal nga talaga ng kape niyo tapos yung ating mga senior citizen, ayaw niyo pang bigyan ng discount?” the solon said. 

(You can't just say that ‘We will remove it’. Actually, your coffee is really expensive but you don’t even want to give a discount to our senior citizens?)

The Starbucks representative explained that the policy was originally made “in response to our employees asking for a suggested approach”. 

Romualdez, the leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives, also took cognizance of a case filed by the Pasig Prosecutor’s Office against a big hotel in the city, which failed to grant an elderly customer the mandated discount. 

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, who is the complainant’s counsel, identified the respondent establishment in the course of the hearing as Marco Polo Hotel-Pasig. 

“We are expecting arrest warrants to be issued today (Wednesday) against responsible hotel officers,” said Macalintal, who also attended the House probe. 

For his part, Parañaque City Rep. Gus Tambunting said, “Salamat sa ating Speaker. Sana mabawas-bawasan na ang pang-aagrabiyado sa ating mga senior citizen at PWD.” 

(I thank our Speaker. Hopefully the maltreatment of our senior citizens and PWD would be lessened.)

Meanwhile, Committee on Ways and Means Chairperson Albay 2nd Rep. Joey Salceda offered a trade-off to Starbucks as supposed “penance” for their violation of the law.

He prodded the chain to give away "free coffee and croissants" for senior citizens and PWD customers.

“Substantially, not in words. Sorry is not enough,” he said.

Cole laughed at the suggestion and didn't make commitment for it.