Senior citizen discount cannot be combined with other discounts: SC

The ruling comes after the SC reversed the decision of lower courts and acquitted Orville U. Ong, general manager of a hotel in Bacolod City, who had been accused of violating the Senior Citizens Act by refusing to grant the mandatory 20% discount to two senior citizen guests.
 
Ong argued the hotel had already applied a 20% discount to the room rate negotiated for the Cebu Bikers Club, of which the guests were members, and the discount was not shown separately on the official receipt because it had already been deducted from the total amount. 
 
The SC affirmed this, stating, "the hotel was therefore not required to grant an additional discount.” 
 
Moreover, the high court emphasized that while the Senior Citizens Act aims to protect and support senior citizens, its implementation must remain fair and reasonable to 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,” SC explained.  
 
The amended Republic Act No. 9994, also known as the Expanded Senior Citizen Act of 2010, mandated that senior citizens can enjoy a 20% discount on medicines and supplements, medical services, domestic transportation, hospitality and entertainment establishments, and funeral or burial services.