Senior citizens to be given priority in food, medicine purchases

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is calling on supermarkets, drug stores and other  businesses that continue to operate to give priority to senior citizens in food and medicine purchases through exemption from lines for entry as well as providing a “Seniors Only” shopping hour and express lanes for payment.

In Memorandum Circular 20-09 issued March 28, the DTI is enjoining all supermarkets, groceries, pharmacies, drug stores and other businesses allowed to continue operations during the state of public health emergency and state of calamity to implement measures to prioritize senior citizens or those at least 60 years old. 

The DTI said senior citizens should be allowed to immediately enter the business establishments’ premises and be exempted from having to wait in line. 

“In order to meet this objective, duly assigned security of administration personnel of covered establishments shall ensure that senior citizens are assisted to enter their establishment ahead of the ordinary buyers on an ‘as they come’ basis,” the DTI said. 

Business establishments are also encouraged to designate a “Seniors Only” shopping hour.

DTI said the senior citizens may choose to make their purchases even beyond the designated “Seniors Only” hour. 

Apart from the existing Senior Citizens lane, DTI said the business establishments should also have a designated express lane for the elderly who are purchasing 25 items or less.