DTI reiterates 5% discount for senior citizens

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has reiterated anew the provision of five percent discount for senior citizens.
DTI-Davao City Field Office senior trade and industry development specialist Paciente E. Cubillas, Jr. said the five percent discount is a special privilege granted by DTI and Department of Agriculture (DA) and shall apply to basic necessities and prime commodities like canned fish, milk, coffee, bread, sugar, cooking oil, instant noodles, dried, processed and canned meat, and powdered, liquid, bar laundry and detergent soap.
Cubillas said Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act provides that also included in the discount are fresh fruits, onions, herbicide, poultry, swine and cattle feeds, veterinary products for poultry, swine and cattle, steel wires, plywood, and electrical bulbs.
Cubillas said the discount shall apply only to regular retail price of goods and not to be applied on top of the special or promotional discounted price of select commodities.
“And we have to take note that those who can avail of this are 60-year-old Filipinos who reside in the Philippines,” he said.
Cubillas added that a senior citizen can purchase up to a maximum of P1,300 worth of commodities/products cited above.
In the event that a senior citizen can’t personally make purchases, a representative can do it for him provided that such person will bring the following upon purchase: senior citizen’s identification card and purchase booklet from the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA); authorization letter signed by the senior citizen whom he represents; and a valid government-issued ID card of the representative. [PNA]