The National Coordinating and Monitoring Board (NCMB) on Friday passed a resolution clarifying the availment of the 20 percent discount for senior citizens in restaurants and other food establishments.

Before coming up with a resolution, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral said both the senior citizens groups and the Quick-Service Restaurants League aired their issues and concerns during the discussions facilitated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“The restaurants group submitted their enhanced proposal, while actual complaints by senior citizens groups against particular restaurants were also raised,” Cabral said.

Cabral pointed out that as a result of the consultation meetings between DSWD and the Quick-Service Restaurants League, “the 20 percent discount benefit shall apply only to food purchases for the “personal consumption” of the Filipino elderly.”

She explained that for certain mechanisms such as accompanied-dining or “group meals,” as well as take-out, drive-thru, and delivery orders, “reasonable standards for a fair application of the law should be observed.”

Cabral, also NCMB chairperson, said it was a unanimous agreement that “the basis for the proposed restaurant guidelines should revolve around the only limitation imposed by Republic Act (RA) 9257or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act providing that the 20 percent discount should be for the exclusive use and enjoyment of the senior citizen.”

Resolution 3-2009 was yesterday passed by the NCMB, chaired by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and signed by NCMB members, composed of the secretary of the Federation of Senior Citizens Associations of the Philippines (FSCAP), president of Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP), member of Association of Retired Postal and Senior Citizens (ARPES), and representatives of other concerned organizations.

Also on Friday, the Quezon City government stressed that the benefits for senior citizens remain one of its top priorities as part of its poverty alleviation program.

Dr. LaRainne Sarmiento, chairman of the Quezon City anti-poverty integration task force (APITF) said that it is the city’s continuing commitment to the elderly, although young people comprise 33 percent of the city’s population. (with a report by Chito A. Chavez)