Higher Goods Discount for Seniors & PWDs Effective Next Week
SENIORS & PWD – With the current discount at P65, the weekly 5% special discount for senior citizens and persons with disabilities is set to increase to P125 starting next week, as per a joint administrative order endorsed by the trade, agriculture, and energy departments.
The updated regulations regarding the 5% special discount on essential goods and prime commodities for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) were approved on Thursday, resulting in an increase of the weekly grocery discount cap from P65 to P125, effective next week.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), alongside the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Energy (DOE), will oversee the implementation of the revised rules as indicated in the new joint administrative order, scheduled to be published on Monday, March 25, and to take immediate effect upon publication.
Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual emphasized the significance of recognizing the valuable contributions of senior citizens and PWDs to society, reaffirming the commitment to ensuring their access to essential goods during emergencies.
The covered goods include those outlined in the Price Act, encompassing items essential for sustenance. Basic necessities monitored by the DTI consist of various products such as canned fish, processed milk, coffee, and household items like laundry soap and detergent.
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The DA oversees items like rice, cooking oil, fresh meat, vegetables, and fruits, while the DOE is responsible for household liquefied petroleum gas and kerosene.
Examples of prime commodities under DTI supervision include flour, canned meat, vinegar, and toiletries, while those under the DA comprise dried meat, onion, garlic, and agricultural inputs like fertilizers and pesticides.
The DTI specified that the special discount is exclusively for senior citizens and PWDs, with no provision for carrying over any unused amount to the next week. It clarified that this discount is separate from the 20% statutory discount provided under Republic Act No. 9994 and RA. 10754, which expands the benefits for PWDs.