‘Idiotic requirement’ should be removed

Recently, I purchased some groceries from a big supermarket in Cebu which refused to give me the 5-percent discount on my purchases because I had no purchase discount card. I argued that that requirement applies only to the purchase of medicines by senior citizens and not to groceries, but the cashier refused, pointing to a posted purchase card requirement.

I asked to talk to her supervisor. The supervisor came and sternly supported the cashier and showed me a sample of the required card. I then pointed to the column in the card marked “Balance” and explained to her that the column was meant to record the balance of medicines available for future purchase covered by the same prescription; not for groceries. The supervisor saw the light and allowed me to enjoy the 5-percent discount. I promised her that I would work to have the idiotic requirement removed.

I am calling the attention of our congressmen representing senior citizens and the government agencies concerned to have this provision removed as it does no good to the senior citizens, the government and the grocery stores selling to senior citizens.

—AMADO F. CABAERO,

founding chair

and past national president, Philippine Association

of Retired Persons, [email protected]