A private vacation home rental in Ilocos Sur shared that it encountered a guest who appeared to want to stay for free by invoking persons with disabilities (PWD) privileges.
Kauna Vigan posted screenshots of an online conversation with a potential guest who wanted to book their villa.
The guest asked whether the home rental accepts a PWD discount, and the host confirmed that it does, requiring only a valid PWD ID.
The inquiring guest responded that they would proceed with the booking, then asked for a “100% discount” because they have “five PWDs.”
“The 20% discount is given to each guest po, but not 100% of the total rate. So if mayroong 5 PWD guests, each one can get 20% off their share of the rate po,” Kauna Vigan told the inquiring guest.
However, the inquiring guest insisted that the computation should be “times five of the 20% discount” since there are five PWDs, and then threatened to “report” the business if it did not provide the “correct discount.”
Kauna Vigan explained the proper way the discount would be applied in another message, saying that “each PWD guest will just pay the remaining 80% of the rate” as they are entitled to a 20% PWD discount.
Despite this, the inquiring guest continued to insist that their stay should be “free” because all five of them are PWDs.
“We’re required to pay even if we’re five PWD? Hindi po ba if 20% each then 5 PWD, then 100% discount so the stay should be free already?” the inquiring guest wrote in the message.
The business clarified that the PWD discount should not be multiplied.
“The stay shouldn’t be free po. The 20% discount is applied per PWD guest, not 20% multiplied until the whole booking becomes free po,” Kauna Vigan replied.
But the inquiring guest claimed that their payment had “ballooned” instead and threatened to “report” the business.
Screengrabs of the conversation soon made their way to Facebook, where other pages also shared the post.
Under the law, PWDs are entitled to a 20% discount on all services at hotels and similar lodging establishments, restaurants and recreation centers.
The discount “shall apply to room accommodation and other amenities offered by the establishment such as but not limited to massage parlor, sauna bath, food, drinks and other services offered,” the law states.
The discount is available to PWDs upon presenting proof of their status, such as a valid PWD ID.
It is intended “to provide persons with disability the opportunity to participate fully in the mainstream of society.”
“It is the declared policy of the State to give full support to the improvement of well-being and integration into mainstream society of persons with disability,” the law said.
