NO OSCA ID, NO DISCOUNT? Atty. Comafay moves to require discount-rights signages in Tabuk businesses after senior citizens' complaints

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Following complaints from senior citizens who were allegedly refused statutory discounts for failing to present an Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA)-issued identification card, City Councilor Atty. Errol B. Comafay Jr. has proposed an ordinance requiring business establishments to recognize other legally accepted identification documents as proof of eligibility.

The proposed Tabuk City Senior Citizen Identification Card Information Ordinance sponsored by Comafay, was submitted to the Office of the Sangguniang Panlungsod on October 29, 2026, for legislative consideration. It seeks to prevent qualified senior citizens from being denied discounts and privileges simply because they do not possess or present an OSCA-issued identification card.

Under the proposed measure, senior citizens may also present a Philippine passport or another valid government-issued identification document recognized by law, provided it establishes their identity, Filipino citizenship, and age of at least 60 years.

The measure cites Republic Act No. 9994, or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, and its implementing rules, which recognize alternative documents as proof of entitlement to senior citizen benefits.

Comafay's proposal followed reported complaints involving business establishments allegedly refusing to grant senior citizen discounts to customers who could not produce their OSCA identification cards despite presenting alternative valid identification.

The proposed ordinance emphasizes that an OSCA-issued senior citizen ID should not be imposed as the exclusive identification requirement when a legally sufficient alternative document is presented.

It also directs all business establishments operating within Tabuk City to prominently display informational signages explaining the acceptable identification documents and reminding businesses of their obligations under existing laws.

The City Special Concerns and Coordinating Office (CSCCO) will serve as the lead implementing office, in coordination with OSCA, the City Legal Office, and the City Business Permit and Licensing Office.

Under the proposal, business owners, managers, and other persons in charge will be required to allow the posting of the signages, keep them visible and readable, and inform their frontline personnel about the acceptable identification alternatives.

The initial standard signages will be provided and installed by the city government without charge to business establishments.

The proposed ordinance also allocates an initial implementation budget of P300,000 for the production, distribution, installation, and replacement of signages, information activities, and monitoring expenses.

It further provides for a monitoring and complaints mechanism, with the CSCCO tasked to monitor compliance with the posting requirements and OSCA assisting affected senior citizens in pursuing appropriate complaints.

Business establishments found with missing, obscured, altered, or damaged signages will be given written notice and 15 working days to undertake corrective action.

However, the proposed measure clarifies that it does not independently authorize the automatic suspension or cancellation of a business permit.