The city government of Davao and the cinema owners/operators in Davao City are set to sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the implementation of the Persons with Disability (PWD) Free Movie Privilege Ordinance.
The ordinance was already passed and signed by Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte.
Authored by Councilor Jessica Bonguyan, chair of the Committee on Games and Amusement of the City Council, the ordinance aims to grant PWDs duly issued identification cards that will give them free movie privileges to all cinemas in Davao City.
The ordinance states that the city government of Davao shall enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with all cinemas, cinema owners, and cinema operators within the jurisdiction of Davao City.
The MOA shall provide the specific day and time when the privileged may be availed of the allotment of seats for the PWDs, and the proof of identification required to be presented to avail of the free movie access in the available movie theaters of the cinema operators.
Bonguyan said on June 28, 2024, all cinema operators will convene together with PWD associations to discuss this MOA for finalization and eventually full implementation.
“The communication has been sent to all the cinema operators for this purpose,” she said on Tuesday.
In this free movie privilege, PWDs with duly issued PWD IDs shall enjoy the privilege of free movie access to any film of their choice in the cinema or movie theater. They can avail of the movie privilege every Monday during the first screening only per week.
Under the ordinance, the Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) shall issue availing PWDs with a movie pass booklet which contains the serial number, PWD full name, photo, address, PWD ID number, and signature.
“It’s a “No PWD ID, No Entry” policy. So, they have to pass their PWD booklet upon entry. Kasi ang PWD natin ang iba hindi halata na PWD, so further verification they can refer to the Philippine registry for PWD or contact record section of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) kung alanganin ang cinema operators to verify the PWD,” Bonguyan said.
For the participating cinemas on the day that a PWD may avail of the free movie privilege, cinema owners or operators are mandated to allot at least 5 percent of the total seating capacity of the movie theater for availing PWDs.
Section 5 of the ordinance penalizes any person who commits fraudulent means such as falsification of PWD ID in availing of this privilege card: first offense, a fine of P2,000; second offense, P3,000; and third offense, P5,000.
