City councilor proposes free movie passes for PWDs

Contributed photo
Contributed photo

A DAVAO City councilor has filed an ordinance that would allow persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Davao City to enjoy free movies in all cinemas or movie theaters in the city.

“Naga-propose ako ng ordinance to give free access ng movie to PWDs, because last council naghatag sila og movie privilege sa atoang mga Senior Citizens, so I believe it's about time mohatag pud ta sa laing community which is the PWDs (I have submitted a city ordinance to give free access of movie to PWDs because, during the previous council, they gave this privilege to Senior Citizens so I believe it's about time to give another community this particular privilege),” Davao City Councilor Jessica Bonguyan, chairperson on games and amusement, said in an ambush interview with SunStar Davao on October 27, 2022.

Bonguyan said she has already finished two committee hearings and the majority of the movie theaters in Davao City have responded positively.

“Happy kaayo ko kay very positive ang support sa atoang mga partners nga mga malls na all situated dire sa Davao City (I’m happy to learn that our partner malls are all supportive) as part of their corporate social responsibility,” Bonguyan said.

However, she said movie theater management also requested to limit the privilege.

“We will finalize sa amoang proposed ordinance na five percent sa capacity, because not all movie theaters kay dako ang ma-accommodate (In the final ordinance, it will be limited to only five percent of the movie theater because not all of them can accommodate a large number [of beneficiaries]),” Bonguyan said.

She said those taking care of the PWDs are not part of the privilege so they have to pay for their own tickets to watch with them.

Bonguyan said PWDs need to present their PWD ID to avail of the free movie pass.

“PWD with duly issued IDs shall enjoy the privilege of free movie access to any film of their choice, in a cinema or movie theater,” Bonguyan said.

She said they will also be given a movie pass booklet from the Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO). The booklet will have a serial number and details of the PWD.

PWDs are only allowed to avail of the privilege once a week but if they opted to watch another movie in the same week they have to pay for its price but with the 20 percent discount intended for PWD ID holders.

According to Bonguyan the free movie privilege is only applicable to regular movie screenings, excluding special cinemas like Dolby Atmos, Imax Theaters, Director’s Club, 3D, and 4D theaters.

Bonguyan said the proposal has been approved in its second reading and will be discussed in the third and final reading. KSD

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