Perks not enjoyed by seniors

It’s Elderly Filipino Week (Oct. 1-7). Time to remember the following benefits that are not yet enjoyed by senior citizens:

1. Discount on purchase of Glucerna and Ensure powdered milk prescribed by doctors for senior citizens. These are costly items needed by senior citizens (big-sized Glucerna costs P2,000 per can), but stores do not give a discount because they are not specifically mentioned in the law as subject to discount. We suggest that the law be amended accordingly.
2. Required “sugar-free sections” in supermarkets.
3. Priority seating for elderly

passengers in front seats of buses, planes, etc.

4. Priority attention to senior

citizens in medical and dental clinics.

5. Special bus in every city (or “kneeling bus” as in New York City) for free point-to-point transportation of senior citizens.

On the other hand, the idiotic requirement of purchase cards to enjoy the 5-percent senior citizens discount on purchases of grocery items, etc. in supermarkets should be stopped. This card serves no purpose as there’s “no balance” to be recorded after each purchase, and there’s no limit as to how much worth of grocery items can be purchased by senior citizens.

Also, the promo rate as basis of a 20-percent discount on plane fares should be restored since whatever discount is given to senior citizens is

recoverable by the establishment as

deduction on income tax.

—AMADO F. CABAERO,

founding chair and past president,

Philippine Association

of Retired Persons,

[email protected]