PAGASA Position Paper on Expanded Senior Citizen Act of 2003
We applaud the respect accorded to the senior citizens of our society but would like to bring up the following points regarding the guidelines to implement Rule V, Section 14 of the IRR of R.A, 9257, otherwise known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act 2003. 1.) Section 3. Supermarkets or Food Retailers can never afford to offer the 20% discount to senior citizens noble as the act may seem. The Supermarket Industry averages around 3 to 5% mark-up for basic necessities and prime commodities especially for PAGASA members who cater to the mass market. This privilege for senior citizens is from the very beginning destined to be abused by the unscrupulous in our society be they senior citizens or not. 2.) Section 3�..�for the exclusive use of the senior citizens.� This premise will find difficulty in practice as anyone accompanying a senior citizen entitled to the proposed discounts may misuse/abuse the privilege of the said senior citizen by asking the latter to buy...