20% DISCOUNT SA SENIORS SA VITAMINS, SUPPLEMENTS

HINILING ni senior citizens’ (SCs) rights advocate lawyer Romulo Macalintal kay Health Secretary Francisco Duque na agad na magpalabas ng direktiba na nag-aatas sa lahat ng establisimiyento at drug stores na bigyan ang mga senior ng 20% discount at  exemption sa 12% Value Added Tax (VAT) sa kanilang bibilhing vitamins o dietary supplements, lalo na sa panahong ito na kailangang- kailangan nila ang nasabing items.

Sa isang one-page letter na in-email ni Macalintal kay Duque, sinabi niya na ang naturang discount sa  vitamins at  supplements ay pinapayagan sa ila-lim ng Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) ng Republic Act No. 9994 o ang 202 Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

“Artcile 5.9 of said IRR defines ‘medicine’ as any prescription and non-prescription/over-the-counter drugs, both generic and branded, including vit-amins and mineral supplements medically prescribed by the elderly’s physician, and approved by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which are intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of human disease or sickness,” ani Macalintal.

“But despite this clear definition of the word ‘medicine’ , drug stores or establishments selling vitamins, mineral, dietary or food supplements do not grant such privilege to SCs who, under the law are entitled to said discount in purchasing their medicines” dagdag pa niya.

“I am sure you will agree with me that, under this current COVID-19 pandemic condition, these vitamins, especially Vitamin C, and mineral or dietary supplements are urgently needed by our SCs, hence, this urgent request,” pagbibigay-diin ni Macalintal.

“In the event that your Department cannot immediately act on this request, may we respectfully request you, as the alter ego of the President, to refer this request to President Duterte for his information and immediate action” sabi pa ni Macalintal.

“There has been a rapid growth in the sale of  vitamins and dietary supplement since companies manufacturing these products are aware of the budget and income of those category of clients in this level.  In one article it has been said that these companies ‘have taken advantage of the situation and have begun offering various vitamins and dietary supplements product in different formats, positioning and pricing’,” aniya.