Free movies for senior citizens metro this week

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

Senior citizens in Iloilo City who wish to watch free movies in cinemas this Christmas will have an early treat from the city government.

Starting December 16, 2019 until January 6, 2020, the city government will distribute specially designed movie passes for senior citizens.

“We will be giving out movie tickets starting on December 16, 2019. It will be the first batch of tickets to be given out,” Councilor Irene Ong said on Thursday.

The movie passes will allow the senior citizens to watch free movies in the cinemas and movie theaters in the city every Tuesday.

Ong who is the proponent of the ordinance said they revived the program so that it will be properly be implemented in the city

“Actually, ini nga programa indi na ini bag-o kay long before pa ini pero nakibot lang ko nga gulpi nadula,” Ong lamented.

Last December 5, 2019, the City Council amended the ordinance to establish proper guidelines and regulations.

Ong said senior citizens can now watch the first screening of the movie in the cinemas except for films under the Metro Manila Film Festival.

“Unlike before na second screening sila makalantaw subong sa first screening na pero kon ang showing is MMFF indi sila pwede sa first screening,” Ong explained.

However, the movie access for seniors is non-transferrable and not available during regular holidays.

It is also not applicable for VIP seating and 3D or iMAX movies.Ong said senior citizens will have to bring the movie passes and their senior citizen’s identification card to avail the free movies every Tuesday.

Instead of representatives, Ong reiterated that senior citizens should personally claim the tickets at the City Hall.

“Ang ticket kinahanglan sila gid personally ang makuha kay karon kon indi sila personally makuha kag may representative basi ma-bedridden siya and indi kalantaw sine,” Ong noted.

The councilor said they initially printed 5,000 movie tickets for the first batch of senior citizens and will print about 40,000 succeeding tickets for the next batch.