The Makati City government has announced it paid five theatre owners more than P38 million for the free movie tickets given to elders and persons with disability in the city who availed the privilege in 2017.
The privilege covers 80,000 senior citizens and some 7,715 registered PWDs of Makati who can watch free movies at any of the cinema-partners in Glorietta and Greenbelt, Century Mall, Power Plant Mall, Cash and Carry, and Waltermart.
Mayor Abigail Binay said her administration has sustained the program because of what she described as “priceless” benefits for the elders and PWD.
“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, which also give them the chance to socialize and do some catching up,” said Binay.
She also 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 program was started in 1997 for the benefit of the elderly, and was later expanded in 2006 to include the PWD sector.
In a report submitted to the Office of the Mayor, city chief accountant William Dayrit stated that 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 PWD. Joel E. Zurbano
The amount constitutes 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 Company, Inc. (Cash and Carry) ALI Commercial Center, Inc. (Glorietta and Greenbelt); Century City Development Corporation (Century City Mall); Rockwell Land Corporation (Power Plant); and Willimson, Inc. (Waltermart).
For 2017, Makati paid Adebe Realty Company, Inc. P1,946,036.97 for senior citizens and P112,512.75 for PWD; ALI Commercial Center, Inc. P18,319,109.05 for senior citizens and P1,363,710.23 for PWD; Century City Development Corporation P1,756,652.09 and P326,626.59 for PWD;
Rockwell Land Corporation P10,903,357.80 for senior citizens and P1,253,003.67 for PWD; and Willimson, Inc. P2,428,769.28 for senior citizens and P119,758.90 for PWD.
Beneficiaries need only to present their senior citizens identification 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 PWD 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 No. 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 No. 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 PWD of Makati through the enactment of City Ordinance No. 2006-066.
For 2018, the city government has allocated P40 million for the movie tickets of senior citizens and P4 million for PWD.
In Makati, senior citizens and PWD 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.
PWD in Makati are also granted the Access Display Card, a special car sticker for private vehicles they use which entitles them to being given priority for a parking space anywhere within Makati, as mandated by City Ordinance No. 2006-036.
Free mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walker and crutches are also given to the less fortunate PWD, while the deaf and mute are being assisted by the city Public Employment Services Office through its Job Placement Program.