The supermarket industry was caught unaware when the Manila Bulletin came out with an news article regarding the Expanded Senior Citizen Discount Act which gives senior citizen card holders a discount of 5% in supermarkets, grocery, convenience stores and mini convenience stores.

The Senior Citizen Discount Act which was passed as Republic Act 7432 gave senior citizen 20% discount priviledges in drugstores, restaurants and entertainment establishments. Republic Act 9257 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Discount Act of 2003 included supermarkets and grocery stores. However, the implementing guidelines has not been established by the Department of Trade until this month. There had been some discussions between suppliers and supermarket representatives with the DTI but nothing was finalized during the meetings.

Competition in the supermarket industry has driven prices down in the country. Though suppliers have come out with suggested prices with 5% mark-ups, many supermarkets have a mark up of only 10 cents on some items as a loss leader. Implementing the 5% discount on the basic commodities may force some stores to rethink their pricing policies.

Together with Steve Cua during the meeting were executive vice president Roy Chua, treasurer William Villanueva, directors Karl Marxist Tan and Patrick Ong. Other representatives to the meeting were officers of the Philippine Association of Supermarkets, Inc. (PASI) led by its president Carlos Cabochan, Joey Go, Lily Tan, Manny and Eugene Enciso, Rene Guevarra and Atty. Fred Plez. Present also were Merriam Cheng of Landmark Supermarket and Julie Lim of Ultra Mega.