The Makati city government paid a total of P18 million to its five partner-cinemas for free movie tickets given during the first six months of the year to 82,035 senior citizens and 9,896 persons with disability.
Mayor Abigail Binay said the unparalleled perk provided by the city government is available to some 110,780 elderly citizens and 12,080 registered PWDs of Makati.
“Our meaningful partnership with cinema owners in Makati has been giving joy to our senior and PWD Makatizens for over two decades now. It is our pride and pleasure to make them happy and young at heart through this privilege,” Binay said.
“We are heartened to learn that other localities have followed suit and granted the said perk to their elderly and PWD residents, although with certain limitations, such as designating certain days of the week for the free admission to selected cinemas,” she added.
The elderly and PWD Makati residents can watch movies for free at any time and day in cinema-partners in Glorietta and Greenbelt, Century Mall, Power Plant Mall, Cash and Carry, and Waltermart.
In his report submitted to the Office of the Mayor, city chief accountant William Dayrit said the city paid a total of P18,146,284.00 to five cinema-partners for movie tickets issued for the first two quarters of the year. Of this, P16,595,131.75 went to movie tickets of senior citizens and P1,551,152.25 to movie tickets of PWDs.
The amount represents the 25-percent share of the city government in the cost of movie tickets used under the program
The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Makati also recently enacted City Ordinance No. 2019-A-023 which grants a P10,000 cash gift per year for senior citizens aged 90 to 99 who have been Blu Card holders for at least five years.
Qualified Blu Card holders who will celebrate their 90th birthday this year will also be receiving a P5,000 year-end cash gift in December. They will continue to enjoy the said benefit until their 99th birthday.