Makati gov’t: P39.5-M budget went to free movie tickets of elderlies, PWDs

Makati Mayor Abigail Binay. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Makati City government paid a total of P39.5 million to five of its partner cinemas for the benefit of senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in 2018.

Makati Mayor Abigail “Abby” Binay said that 82,035 senior citizens and 9,896 PWDs benefitted from the city’s free movie tickets program in 2018 alone.

“We have sustained this program since 1997 because of the joy it has given to thousands of senior Makatizens, which is priceless. Watching free movies has become a favorite hobby among them, keeping them in touch with friends and making them feel young at heart,” Binay said in a statement on Friday.

William Dayrit, Makati’s accounting department officer-in-charge, said in his report to Binay that the P36 million went to movie tickets of senior citizens, while the remaining P3.5 million went to the tickets of PWDs.

The cinema-partners of Makati City are in Glorietta and Greenbelt, Century Mall, Power Plant Mall, Cash and Carry, and Waltermart.

According to the local government of Makati, these amounts constitute the 25-percent share of the city government in the cost of movie tickets used.

The program began 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 the elderly.

After three years, the program was institutionalized through City Ordinance No. 2001-035 granting the inclusion of appropriations in its executive budget.

In 2006, it was also granted to registered PWDs of Makati under the City Ordinance No. 2006-066. /jpv