The National Commission on Senior Citizens (NCSC) has asked grocery retailers to establish the P500 monthly discount on products and prime commodities provided to senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

NCSC Chairperson Franklin Quijano said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has already issued an order to increase the maximum discount to P125 weekly or P500 a month starting March.

Current guidelines permit senior citizens and those with disabilities to receive a five percent discount on groceries, with a maximum total discount of P260 per month or P65 per week.

“Pakikinabangan po ang karagdagang discount at kailangan lang talaga i-disseminate natin ang impormasyon dahil may mga groceries na baka hindi nila alam. Although ang DTI ay naglabas na ng kanilang directive (The additional discount will be beneficial, and we need to disseminate the information since there may be groceries that people are unaware of. Although the DTI has issued a directive),” he said in a televised media briefing on Tuesday, Mar. 5.

The discounts apply only to basic and primary commodities such as rice, corn, bread, meat, fish, chicken, eggs, cooking oil, sugar, vegetables, fruits, onions, garlic, and fresh and processed milk, except medical grade milk.

Manufactured products are also covered, including processed meat, sardines, and corned beef, however, medical-grade milk, premium brands of manufactured goods, cakes, and pastries are exempt from discounts.

On the other hand, there are further discounts available on basic construction supplies such as cement, hollow blocks, and electrical supplies, including light bulbs.

Quijano advised elders to file complaints and concerns with the Office of Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA).

“Kung may reklamo man sila, hindi lang nila sa OSCA ipapadala, kung hindi i-copy-furnish ang National Commission on Senior Citizens, nang sa ganon matulungan natin ang OSCA na tawagan ang mga alkalde at ang mga ahensya at mga groceries (If they have complaints, they can submit it not just to the OSCA. They should copy-furnish NCSC so that we may help OSCA contact mayors, agencies, and grocery retailers),” he said.