BACOLOD City — The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) of Bacolod has urged all pharmacies and drugstores in the city to honor any government-issued identification card (ID) of senior citizens to avail of the mandated 20% discount and value-added tax (VAT) exemption on medicines and medical devices, even without the Senior Citizen Purchase Booklet.
The resolution, authored by Councilor Caesar Distrito and approved by the SP, cited Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Circular No. 2025-005 and Department of Health (DOH) Administrative Order No. 2024-0017, which expressly removed the Senior Citizen Purchase Booklet as a mandatory requirement for discounts and VAT exemption. Instead, senior citizens need only to present a valid ID and, when necessary, a doctor’s prescription.
“Our senior citizens should not be burdened with unnecessary requirements just to receive a benefit that is already mandated by law,” Distrito stressed.
Under Republic Act (RA) 9994, or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, as amended by RA 11916, qualified senior citizens are entitled to a 20% discount and VAT exemption on medicines, vitamins, and medical supplies for their personal use. Acceptable IDs include a senior citizen ID, passport, driver’s license, national ID (PhilSys), or any equivalent government-issued ID clearly showing the holder’s age.
Distrito emphasized that the resolution serves as a reminder to pharmacies and drugstores of their duty to comply with the law and protect the elderly from undue inconvenience or denial of benefits. Establishments that refuse compliance face penalties under RA 9994, including fines of P50,000 to P100,000 and/or imprisonment of two to six years, with heavier sanctions and possible revocation of business permits for repeat violations.
He noted that despite clear provisions in the law and updated guidelines, some pharmacies reportedly continue to require the Senior Citizen Purchase Booklet, causing unnecessary delays and inconvenience to the elderly.
The SP called on all pharmacies and drugstores to immediately adhere to the law and national directives to ensure that senior citizens receive their rightful discounts and VAT exemption without hindrance./PN
