THE City of Makati City spent P36 million to give its senior citizens free movies last year.
Makati Mayor Abigail Binay said the city paid P39.5 million to its partner cinemas for free movie tickets issued to its senior citizens and residents with disabilities in 2018.
The mayor said the much-envied perk provided by the city government is available to 82,035 elderly citizens.
“We have sustained this program since 1997 because of the joy it has given to thousands of senior Makatizens. This is priceless. Watching free movies has become a favorite hobby among them, keeping them in touch with friends and making them feel young at heart,” Binay said.
The elderly and PWD Makatizens can watch free movies at any of the cinema-partners in Glorietta and Greenbelt, Century Mall, Power Plant Mall, Cash and Carry and Waltermart.
In a recent report to Binay, Accounting Department Officer in Charge William Dayrit said of the P39.5 million paid to its partner cinemas, P36 million went to movie tickets of senior citizens and P3.5 million to movie tickets of persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The amounts constitute the 25-percent share of the city government in the cost of movie tickets used under the program, which is being implemented in partnership with cinema owners in the city.
The free-movies benefit for the elderly started 22 years ago with the passage of City Ordinance 97-085, allocating P500,000 as the 25-percent share of the city in cinema admission costs for senior citizens.
The program was institutionalized three years later through City Ordinance 2001-035 granting the inclusion of appropriations in the annual City Executive Budget for its continuous implementation in succeeding years.
Meanwhile, elderly Makatizens also receive cash gifts, free birthday and golden wedding anniversary cakes, and free medicines under the BLU Card Program.
In November last year, Binay proposed to grant an annual P10,000 cash gift to elderly Makatizens aged 90 to 99 years old. The cash gift will continue to be given to them when they reach their 101st birthday, and onward for as long as they live. The proposal is still awaiting the approval of the City Council.
In 2018, six centenarians were awarded P100,000 cash gift each, bringing the total to 51 awardees since 2012.
The city government provided burial assistance to the families of 1,010 Blu Card members who passed away from January to December last year.
During the same period, 4,097 senioritos and senioritas were vaccinated against influenza, while 2,437 seniors were vaccinated against pneumonia. Thousands also enjoyed free salon and spa services made available at SM Felicidad Sy Center and at the Comembo Multipurpose Center.
Around 400 able-bodied seniors also participated in Lakbay Saya tours in Baguio City, Bataan and Ilocos.