MANILA, Philippines – Only identification cards (IDs) issued by the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) and not membership cards issued by senior citizens associations will entitle seniors to the 20 percent discount privilege and other benefits under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, officials said yesterday.
Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said IDs issued by the OSCA are the only valid IDs required by business establishments and medical facilities to avail of the 20 percent discount.
“No Filipino elderly should be forced to become a member of a senior citizens association if one does not want to, nor should an older person be threatened that he or she cannot avail of senior citizens’ benefits without said membership,” Soliman said.
Soliman issued the clarification amid inquiries from senior citizens if membership cards issued by senior citizens associations will guarantee their availment of the rights and privileges provided for under the law.
“Senior citizens are not compelled to become members of senior citizens groups, or to procure said membership cards to avail of discount privileges,” Soliman said.
Soliman also clarified the DSWD has not yet issued national or unified senior citizens ID cards that will be used as a basis for disbursing the P500 monthly social pension for indigent senior citizens.
“At present, the OSCA-issued IDs will be used since it maintains its value as a standard document proving one’s seniority, and is valid anywhere in the country. Eventually, once the intended beneficiaries have already been identified, prospective social pensioners will be issued a proper ID card for that purpose,” she said. –Helen Flores (The Philippine Star)
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