Supreme Court: Senior citizen discounts cannot be combined with other discounts

MANILA — The Supreme Court ruled that senior citizen discounts under Republic Act No. 7432 or the Senior Citizens Act cannot be combined with other discounts offered by business establishments. 

In the decision of the en banc promulgated on October 14, the court acquitted the general manager of a hotel in Bacolod City who was charged for refusing to grant senior citizen discounts to a couple aged 66 and 70. 

The general manager refused to grant the senior citizen discount because the couple had already availed a 20-percent discount on the room rate granted by the hotel to the couple’s bikers club. 

The discount was not separately reflected on the official receipt because it had already been deducted from the total amount. 

The lower courts found the general manager guilty but the SC reversed their rulings. 

“When goods or services are offered at promotional prices, senior citizens may choose either the promotional discount or the 20% senior citizen discount, whichever gives them greater savings,” the SC said in a statement. 

The high court stressed that while the law aims to protect and support senior citizens, its implementation should also be fair and reasonable to businesses. 

The SC added that granting an additional discount beyond what the law allows would unfairly benefit the customer at the expense of businesses.

“The State’s pursuit of public welfare cannot be allowed to impose undue or confiscatory burdens on private establishments, whose continued viability is essential to the long-term effectiveness of the law,” the SC said.