MANILA, Philippines -- After President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced in her State of the Nation Address (SONA) early this week that employees welfare would be one of her administration's priorities, various government agencies launched the ?Diskwento: Presyong Pang-Empleyado" in Mandaluyong City this Friday.

?Diskwento? is a non-wage benefit project spearheaded by the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC), and the Department of Trade and Industry--National Capital Region (DTI-NCR) to provide employees access to affordable basic commodities.

?Two-thirds of the President's SONA speech was about prices, this is our response to her call,? DTI-NCR assistant secretary Angel L. Pelayo said.

Employees interested to purchase products need only to present their company IDs and they will be provided with ?buyer's vouchers? which entitles them to purchase up to P1,500 worth of items, Pelayo said.

She added that buyers were allowed only a maximum amount of purchase to protect the interests of consumers and prevent wholesale buying and profiteering.

Some 20 manufacturing companies have agreed to participate in the project wherein they would sell their products at discounted or manufacturer's prices, Pelayo said.

Companies have also been made aware that they should ensure the availability of their products for all the days of the projects, Pelayo added.

Among the products available are corn oil for only P392 (retail price is at P420), instant noodles for P6.50 (P7.50 in the retail market), Pancit canton noodles for only P33.00 (P36 in the retail market), loaf breads with prices ranging from P43.65 to P50.00 (P48.00 to P55.00 in the retail market), and National Food Authority rice for P18.25 even to those who do not have family access cards. Botika ng Bayan is also selling medicines at affordable prices and are holding free check ups of blood-pressure.

NWPC Executive Director Ciriaco Lagunzad III admitted that the project might be dubbed by the administration's critics as another ?band-aid solution? to the problem of ?eroding? purchasing powers of employees brought about by skyrocketing inflation rates.

But Lagunzad maintained that ?band-aid solutions would prevent the spread of infection? and that the ?Diskwento? program would provide ?partial and immediate solution? to the prevailing needs of employees.

He added that long-term projects were not yet applicable at this time since the needs of the consumers would need to be addressed immediately.

?Ang time-frame for long-term projects ay mahaba at matagal magbunga ang mga 'yan. Dapat short-term muna para mabilis [The time frame for long-term projects us long and it will take a while before these will bear fruit. The projects should be short-term first to be fast],? Lagunzad said.

He added that instead of shooting down the administration's projects, critics should extend a helping hand and give the project a chance to see whether it would be successful.

?Lahat dapat tumulong [Everybody should help] instead of criticizing. We should all maintain a positive outlook during times of crisis so we can find creative solutions,? Lagunzad said.

Meanwhile, the ?Diskwento? will be at Lawton, Manila on August 15, Muntinlupa City on September 1 and in Valenzuela City on September 15.

Lagunzad expects that more companies will volunteer to participate in the next weeks to come adding that if ?Diskwento? proves to be beneficial to many employees, then they are willing to take it to different provinces in the country.