The Makati City government has suspended temporarily the privilege of watching free movies afforded to senior citizens under the Blu Card program.
Mayor Abigail Binay issued the directive through an executive order she signed Friday in compliance with the directive of the Department of Health Technical Advisory Group to impose stringent social distancing measures in Metro Manila for 30 days.
“With the end in view of protecting the health of the elderly and to ensure their safety in the ensuing COVID-19 outbreak, I have ordered the temporary suspension of free movie passes to Blu Card holders effective immediately,” Binay said.
She said the said directive was addressed to the owners and management of cinemas in Glorietta and Greenbelt, Century Mall, Power Plant Mall, Cash and Carry, and Waltermart.
“We are asking our partners to strictly comply with this directive, which is aimed to protect our elderly constituents who are very vulnerable to infection from the virus that attacks the respiratory system,” she added.
The city chief executive also appealed to Blu Card members for their understanding and cooperation.
“This is only a temporary situation to protect you from unnecessary exposure to the disease that has proved fatal particularly for the elderly and infirm. As soon as the situation returns to normal, we will lift the suspension order,” she said.
Unlimited free entrance in moviehouses is one of the privileges enjoyed by Makati’s senior citizens registered under the Blu Card.
Last year, the city government paid around P28.7 million to its cinema-partners for their tickets, and another P2 million for tickets given to qualified PWD.
In 1997, the free movies benefit for the elderly started with the passage of City Ordinance No. 97-085, appropriating 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 No. 2001-035 granting the inclusion of appropriations in the annual City Executive Budget for its continuous implementation in succeeding years.
The perk was also granted to registered PWD of Makati in 2006, through the enactment of City Ordinance No. 2006-066.