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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Villafuerte echoes Speaker's warning vs non-compliant stores on discount laws

Villafuerte echoes Speaker's warning vs non-compliant stores on discount laws

Published Feb 4, 2024 10:58 am

At A Glance

  • Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte agrees with House Speaker Martin Romualdez that non-compliant establishments must be compelled to abide by laws granting discounts to senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and solo parents.

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Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte (Rep. Villafuerte's office)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte agrees with House Speaker Martin Romualdez that non-compliant establishments must be compelled to abide by laws granting discounts to senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and solo parents.

“Various laws have been aptly put in place to provide economic relief to our elderly, solo parents and PWDs to help cushion the impact on them of the ever spiraling cost of living,” Villafuerte said in a statement on Sunday, Feb. 4.

“These landmark laws on social reform will amount to nothing if they are honored more in the breach,” he added.

The Speaker’s warning comes after several reports of violations of laws that grant a 20 percent discount,  plus exemption from the 12 percent value-added tax (VAT) to senior citizens, PWDs, and solo parents.

As a result, Romualdez ordered a congressional inquiry on these non-compliant establishments, which include popular coffee chain Starbucks. Starbucks eventually admitted its mistake in restricting the scope of the law, and the chain would later give a day-long 40 percent discount last Jan. 24 as a gesture of apology.

In a statement, Romualdez said the lower chamber “will not hesitate to exercise its oversight power to force compliance” to businesses that fail to observe laws granting price discounts and other economic privileges to vulnerable sectoral groups.

Villafuerte called on government agencies including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) and National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) to work with local government units (LGUs) in ensuring the effective implementation of the laws.

The National Unity Party (NUP) president has co-authored a wide range of laws granting financial aid to the elderly and solo parents.

Related Tags

Solo parents PWDs House Speaker Martin Romualdez discounts senior citizen lray villafuerte
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