Senior citizens get 5% new discount on basic commodities

 Senior citizens are now qualified for a five percent discount on the prices of basic commodities aside from medicines, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) yesterday said.

Basic goods such as canned sardines, canned tuna, coffee and powdered filled milk bought from groceries by senior citizens should be discounted by five percent, according to RA 9257 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003, the DSWD said.

Also included in the discount are bread, white and brown sugar, cooking oil, instant noodles, luncheon meats, meat loaves, corned beef, preserved or ready-to-cook pork, beef and chicken, and laundry soap.

The law punishes violators with a fine or imprisonment.

DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman said that to avail themselves of the discount, senior citizens should get a purchase booklet from the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) in their city or municipal hall, and these booklets will be used for every purchase of the products.

Soliman also said that senior citizens should present their identification card before the purchase. The discount is granted only when the goods are purchased from supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, and shops and bakeries.

"Sarisari stores", wet markets, and cooperative stores are excluded from giving the discount, Soliman said.

"Purchases should not exceed R650 per calendar week without carry over of the unused amount," Soliman said, adding that this provision in the law is also for the protection of retailers