Senior citizen benefits — a zero-sum game?

Gmeleen Tomboc

WHEN my dad was in his 50s, he would sometimes get asked at restaurants if he had a senior citizen card. He would shake his head vigorously and, I suspect, with equal parts amusement and indignation at being mistaken to be in his 60s. Fast forward two decades, and I can’t help chuckling when he and my mother excitedly whip out their senior citizen cards when dining out.

Seniors enjoy privileges under the law, the most popular being the Expanded Senior Citizens Act. Aside from the 20 percent discount on restaurants, they can use express lanes at commercial and government establishments. Stories of senior citizens being denied their benefits can become national news. Earlier this year, Starbucks Philippines came under fire for limiting the 20 percent discount to one food item and one beverage per visit. The social media outrage led to no less than the speaker of the House of Representatives ordering a hearing, profuse apologies from the company, and a one-day 40 percent discount for seniors and other groups.

The government’s and the public’s swift reaction to the Starbucks episode demonstrates the value that Filipinos place on the elderly. As a daughter, daughter-in-law and niece of senior citizens, I have seen how restaurant servers go the extra mile, guiding seniors carefully so that they do not trip over steps, or wait patiently as they take out reading glasses and slowly peruse menus. During the Covid pandemic, hospitals started requiring all patients to register and book appointments using Google Forms. This posed a near-insurmountable challenge for my parents, who had been filling out paper forms all their lives. They would not have been able to function if not for helpful doctors and staff.

While it may seem from the Starbucks episode that all’s well that ends well, a joint House panel found that around 2,000 complaints have been filed regarding denied benefits. By 2035, the Commission on Population and Development estimates that seniors will comprise 14 percent of the Philippine population, or almost double from 8.5 percent in 2022. As the number of seniors swells in the coming years, we can expect increased resistance (or at least grudging compliance) among businesses in giving discounts.

Perhaps what lies beneath all these is the belief that helping the elderly is a zero-sum game. In economics, this means that a benefit to one person comes at the expense of another. If businesses believe that discounts to seniors reduce their profits, it is no surprise that they give these as stingyingly as legally possible.

We must, therefore, change our perspective and view the elderly as assets to society, not as liabilities to be minimized. In other words, giving benefits to seniors is not giving them a larger slice of the pie but enlarging the pie. Companies should realize that the “silver market” is a treasure trove waiting to be tapped. For example, when planning family trips, I always check whether restaurants are wheelchair-accessible or if multi-story hotels have elevators. Taobao, a leading e-commerce platform in China, launched an elderly-friendly version of its mobile app, with larger text and icons, and even a “Pay by others'” option where family members can link their account with a senior member’s and pay on their behalf. After all, seniors can buy more products online than if they had to go to malls and haul shopping bags home.

A paradigm shift should also happen when crafting government policies. For example, seniors in their 60s or early 70s (classified as “young-old”) may still be able and willing to work. They could benefit financially if allowed to work beyond the compulsory retirement age of 65. As the Philippines grows into a service-based economy, they can pass on knowledge and experience and act as mentors to the next generation.

This is to say nothing of the colossal unpaid labor done by grandparents who look after their grandchildren so their children can work. Keeping the elderly in good health hits two birds with one stone — it improves their own lives and those of the younger members of their families. The government could also provide digital training to seniors so they can use smartphones to keep in touch with distant family and friends or make e-payments. Tech skills could increase seniors’ efficiency, benefiting their workplaces and households.

Older people can contribute massively, not only to their families but also to the business sector. Instead of viewing their benefits as a zero-sum game, we should view these as win-win scenarios that help society and the economy and ensure that they continue to flash their senior citizen cards with pride and joy.

Gmeleen Tomboc is a Filipino based in Singapore. She is deputy chief commercial officer of a renewable energy company. The views here are made in a personal capacity.