The NCSC and NCDA issued the joint statement as officials aired serious concern on the reported announcement of leading coffee restaurant chain Starbucks that 20 percent discounts will be limited to single orders of food and drinks in its establishments.

The NCSC cited Republic ACt No. 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Law as the basis for the mandatory grant of 20 percent senior citizens discounts and 12 percent VAT exemption.

PWD privileges are covered by provisions of RA 10754 or An Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disability.

Both the NCSC and NCDA said the two laws that guarantees 20 percent discount and VAT-exemption to goods and services availed by senior citizens and PWDs are without limitation.

“Notably, the only limitation under the pertinent laws is that the goods and services availed of must be “for the exclusive use and enjoyment or availment” of the laws’ intended beneficiaries. To this end, the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9994 provides safeguards on how to ensure that the discount is only applied to those personally consumed/used by senior citizens,” said the NCSC.

On the other hand, the IRR of RA 10754 states that “subsequent purchases by persons with disability on the same day from the same establishments shall still be subjected to 20% discount and VAT-exemption.”

“On this note, NCSC and NCDA wish to reiterate to the public that following RA 9994, RA 10754, and their respective IRRs, senior citizens and persons with disability are entitled to the 20% discount and VAT-exemption, when applicable, without limitations over and above what the law and the rules provide,” the two agencies said.

They added “Thus, by way of example, there is no basis for an establishment limiting the application of the discount to only one item.

NCSC Commissioner Raymar Mansilungan said the agency will conduct a thorough investigation into Starbucks’ announcement.