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Philippines:
QC dads eye free movies for elderly
By
M. PUNONGBAYAN Philippines - Quezon City’s senior
citizens will soon be able to watch movies for free. A landmark ordinance seeking to give
old residents of Quezon City a 100-percent discount in all local
moviehouses was filed at the city council. Councilors Junie Marie Castelo, Ariel
Inton, Rommel Abesamis, Jorge Banal, Dante de Guzman, Bong Liban and Resty
Malangen authored the proposed measure. Councilors Toto Medalla, Eric Medina,
Annie Susano, Aiko Melendez, Ricky del Rosario, Lala Sotto and Alma
Montilla are also sponsoring the proposed ordinance. The proposed ordinance seeks to
increase the privileges Quezon City gives to senior citizens “to make
life more livable in their sunset years.” The councilors said the city
government, which has recorded a huge budget surplus, can subsidize
moviehouses to provide free tickets to old people. They are asking the city treasury to
dish out P2 million for the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs, which
will be the implementing body. Castelo, the principal author of the
measure, said senior citizens already enjoy a 20-percent discount in
moviehouses and theaters nationwide. He believes that Quezon City can do
more by shouldering the remaining 80 percent to complete the puzzle and
give elders the best benefits they could ever have. The ordinance will allow Mayor
Feliciano Belmonte to enter into a contract with theater owners for the
effective implementation of the full senior citizen’s discount. Moviehouses that will violate the
ordinance will be sanctioned through fines in the first offense. A repeat
will revoke their business licenses. Castelo’s measure is being supported
by the newly elected majority group of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, led by
Inton, who also heads the conscience bloc. The proposed ordinance is their first pet measure filed before the city council after a very long recess period. Copyright
© 2002 Global Action on Aging |
