The 20th Davao City Council on Tuesday, under suspended rules, approved an ordinance allowing the city government to enter into a memorandum of agreement with another local mall chain for free movie access to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
The council approved the ordinance, authorizing the City Mayor, to enter into and sign for and in behalf of the City Government of Davao the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with LTS Malls, Inc. (NCCC).
The city has granted PWDs free access to movies under Ordinance No. 155-23.
Based on the Resolution filed by Councilor Jessica Bonguyan, the MOA designates Monday of every week for PWDs to avail of movie passes from NCCC during the first day of screening, but is only applicable once a week.
The City Government of Davao will provide the necessary assistance to support and uphold the smooth implementation of the Agreement pursuant to City Ordinance 0155-23.
The council also approved the resolution of Bonguyan commending LTS Malls Inc. or NCCC malls for granting free movie passes to PWDs, which enhance the recreational and cultural experiences for differently abled individuals in Davao City. The resolution also recognized the same corporation for being an active partner in the implementation of Ordinance No. 155-23.
Newly-appointed Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) head Atty. Redendo Martinez told Madayaw Davao in an interview, also on Tuesday, that the support of another local mall in providing free movie passes is a welcome development.
“Nagpasalamat mi unang una sa atong mga malls, sa NCCC kanina sa ilang commitment na maghatag gyud og social corporate responsibility naghatag sila og libre nga pa-sine sa atong kaigsuunan na persons with disability. This is not just NCCC itself ang SM nag commit napud and only signing nalang sa atong Honorable Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte. And the rest, Gaisano Mall, Abreeza they committed na musunod napud (We are thankful to the malls, the NCCC, earlier committed to provide social corporate responsibility through free movie passes to our brothers who are PWDs. This will not be just NCCC, SM Malls also committed and it only awaits signing by the Honorable Mayor Baste Duterte. And the rest, Gaisano Malls, Abreeza also committed to follow),” he said.
Martinez also thanked the 20th Davao City Council for its effort in making the ordinance for the PWDs. He also thanked partner agencies, the malls, who discharged and gave their social responsibility to the less fortunate people.
He revealed that per record, there are 23,000 PWDs in Davao City and the number is bound to increase because persons with cancer and rare diseases are already categorized as PWDs. CIO
