The Makati City government has announced the resumption of free movies project for and senior citizens registered under the city’s Blu Card program.
Beginning June 1, senior citizens who are Blu Card holders can again enjoy the privilege of watching free movies in theaters at the Glorietta, Greenbelt, and Circuit Makati.
Mayor Abigail Binay will lead the relaunch of the free movie offering at 10 a.m. tomorrow
in Glorietta 4 Cinema, with other local government officials and Ayala malls executives in attendance.
Binay said the elderly residents who are Blu Card members can again watch movies free of charge on the big screen in Glorietta, Greenbelt, and Circuit Makati cinemas three times a day for the first and second screenings.
The local government suspended the project in 2020 to protect the health of the elderly and ensure their safety at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The free movies benefit for the elderly 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.
The program was institutionalized three years later through City Ordinance No. 2001-035 granting the inclusion of appropriations in its annual budget for its continuous implementation in succeeding years.
In 2006, the perk was also granted to registered persons with disability (PWDs) of Makati through City Ordinance No. 2006-066.
City Ordinance No. 2012-099 also entitled Makati senior citizens who are Blu Card holders to a one-time P100,000 cash gift upon reaching 100 years old. The bonanza serves as a tribute for their significant contributions and role in the history and development of the city.