Special cashier counters set for elderly, disabled, pregnant women in QC

Mayor Herbert Bautista

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City malls, groceries and other commercial establishments are now required to set up special cashier counters for elderly people, persons with disability (PWDs) and pregnant women under pain of a P5,000 fine or having their businesses closed down for a year.

Mayor Herbert Bautista signed into law on March 10 the ordinance that would make it mandatory for malls, groceries and other stores to put up special cashier lanes for senior citizens, differently abled persons and pregnant mothers as a means of prioritizing their needs.

While privileges are ensured the elderly under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, the measure ensures that some of the concessions, including special lanes, allowed them are also extended to PWDs and pregnant women.

According to data from the Quezon City government, there are 14,471 PWDs registered in the city’s persons with disability affairs office while there are 332,358 elderly residents in the locality. In 2009, the local health department registered 101,424 pregnant women in Quezon City.

Under the ordinance, “All malls, groceries and other business establishments… are hereby directed to designate a special lane for differently abled individuals, pregnant women and senior citizens to give priority to them.” The special lanes refer specifically to cashier counters.

A business establishment operator, manager or owner who violates the measure will be fined P5,000 while a second offense would mean a P5,000 fine plus the revocation of the commercial establishment’s license to operate for a year.

The Quezon City business permits and licensing office to monitor, inspect and ensure its strict implementation.