ABOUT 80,000 senior citizens in Makati City enjoyed free movies last year, costing the city P38.5 million, the Makati City government said.
The city government paid the amount to five cinema-partners for movie tickets issued for free to the city’s senior citizens and persons with disability (PWDs) who availed themselves of the perk in 2017.
The number of registered PWDs was pegged at around 7,715 and, like senior citizens, watched the free movies at any of the cinema-partners of the Makati local government unit in Glorietta and Greenbelt, Century Mall, Power Plant Mall, Cash and Carry, and Waltermart.
Makati City Mayor Abigail S. Binay said her administration sustained the program because of its “priceless” benefits for the elderly and PWD Makatizens.
“We cannot put a price on the joys derived by the beneficiaries from this program. Many of our senior citizens have come to love their regular movie dates with their contemporaries. This gives them the chance to socialize and do some catching up,” Binay said.
The mayor noted that having free access to movies is an “enriching experience” for the city’s PWD constituents.
“This program enriches their lives by giving them the freedom to learn more about places and other cultures around the world from every film they watch,” the mayor added.
The program was started in 1997 by then-Makati Mayor Jejomar C. Binay, the incumbent mayor’s father, for the benefit of the elderly. The program was later expanded in 2006 to include the PWD sector.
In a report to the mayor, Accounting Department Officer In Charge William Dayrit said for the whole year, the city paid P35,353,925.19 for the movie tickets issued to senior citizens and P3,175,612.14 for 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. These are Adebe Realty Co. Inc. (Cash and Carry); ALI Commercial Center Inc. (Glorietta and Greenbelt); Century City Development Corp. (Century City Mall); Rockwell Land Corp. (Power Plant); and Williamson Inc. (Waltermart).
For 2017, Makati paid Adebe Realty Co. Inc. P1,946,036.97 for senior citizens and P112,512.75 for PWDs; ALI Commercial Center Inc. P18,319,109.05 for senior citizens and P1,363,710.23 for PWDs; Century City Development Corp. P1,756,652.09 for the elderly and P326,626.59 for PWDs; Rockwell Land Corp. P10,903,357.80 for senior citizens and P1,253,003.67 for PWDs; and Willimson Inc. P2,428,769.28 for senior citizens and P119,758.90 for PWDs.
Beneficiaries need only present their senior citizen ID card or PWD card, together with their free movie booklet at the ticket booths whenever they go to any of the said movie houses.
Free movie booklets are issued by the Office of Senior Citizens Affairs of Makati to senior citizens who can present their White Card (national ID card for senior citizens) and a valid Comelec Certificate showing that they are registered voters of Makati.
The Makati Social Welfare Department, through its PWD Section, issues free movie booklets to adult PWDs ID cardholders who are registered voters of Makati. For PWD of minor age, the guardian or parent must be a registered Makati voter.
The program started in 1997 with the passage of City Ordinance 97-085 appropriating P500,000 as the 25-percent share of the city in cinema admission costs for senior citizens. It was institutionalized almost 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.
In 2006 the said perk was also granted to registered PWDs of Makati through the enactment of City Ordinance 2006-066.
For 2018, the city government has allocated P40 million for the movie tickets of senior citizens and P4 million for PWDs.
In Makati senior citizens and PWDs also enjoy other benefits from the city government.
These include free birthday cakes and golden wedding anniversary cakes for the elderly, cash gifts twice a year and a P100,000 cash incentive for centenarians.
PWDs in Makati are also granted the Access Display Card, a special car sticker for private vehicles they use that entitles them to being given priority for a parking space anywhere within Makati, as mandated by City Ordinance 2006-036.
Free mobility aids, such as wheelchairs, walkers and crutches, are also given to the less-fortunate PWDs, while the deaf and mute are being assisted by the city Public Employment Services Office through its Job Placement Program.