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.

Vice President Sara Duterte stirred social media with her explosive announcement on Tuesday that three Dutertes are raring to run for senate seats in the 2025 mid-term elections.

VP Sara was referring to his father, former president Rodrigo Duterte and siblings, Davao City First District Representative Paolo Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte

The vice president also said that her to mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, wants Mayor Baste to run for President in the 2028 Presidential elections.

“Ang ingon sa akoang mama, mudagan ug senador ang akoang manghod, si Baste Duterte ug siya ang mudagan sa 2028 ug president. Ang ingon sa akoang mama mubalik daw ko sa davao inig human mayor. Lahat sila raring na tumakbo, si PRRD senator, yung kuya ko si Paolo ang ingon senator at si Sebastian. Yes, tatlo ang Duterte for next year. For president, ang ingon sa akong mama akong manghod (Baste) kuno ang mudagan ug president,” she told the media on the sidelines of the Pride Month event in Cagayan de Oro City on Tuesday.

The vice president also clarified that there are no talks that she will resign as vice president.

It can be recalled that the vice president resigned last week as secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) and co-chair of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac).

Councilor Jessica M. Bonguyan, chair of the Committee on Games and Amusement of the City Council, announced on Tuesday that the city is experiencing strong revenue collection from “sabong” or cockfighting activities in Davao City.

Bonguyan said that based on the report of the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) the city has been able to collect P42 million a year from sabong since 2022, which is higher than the P12 million a year revenue collected pre-pandemic. This revenue comes from “sabong” activities in the city alone.

This also showed after the amendments to the 2021 Revenue Code.

“I am happy to announce na informed kita sa City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) that before pandemic sa atong sabong naa tay-revenue na P12 million a year but this time after our ordinance na amend ang revenue code, nausab ang atoang mga taxes on that, niabot na ug P42 million a year ang na-contribute sa sabong operators,” Bonguyan said during the Aprubado sa Konseho media forum.

Bonguyan said this is a big help in the revenue of Davao City.

She added that the city is expecting that the revenue from cockfighting will increase this year due to scheduled stag derbies next month and in August.

“Happy na ang CTO but I believe na mas mudako pa ni karon kay last time nag-adjust pa sila sila sa bag-ong system. This time murag gina-expect nato nga mas mutaas pa ang atong revenue from sabong labi na karon nga naa ta’y stag season in July and August. Mao na ang expected nga daghan schedules for derby in Davao City wherein dako nga tax ang makuha sa Davao City,” Bonguyan said.

Presently, there are four active cockpit arenas nga ga-apply ug special permit for derby in Davao City namely New Matina Gallera, Aquino Colesium, RB Force Complex Cockpit Arena in Cabaguio, and Calinan Cockpit Arena.

Councilor Dante L. Apostol, chair of the Committee on Franchising and Public Utilities of the City Council, admitted on Tuesday that Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations (TODAs) in Davao City will be directly affected by the implementation of the High Priority Bus System (HPBS).

His committee is designated as a member of the Davao City Motorized Tricycle for Hire Franchising and Regulatory Board.

This is one of the workings of the committee and we are tasked to attend MTH meetings regarding the opening of MTH road, extension of existing roads, and subsequently, the approval of motorized tricycle operators permit.

Apostol said there are currently four pending TODA applications for routes and extension of routes. However, he said, the approval is only temporary because of the pending implementation of the HPBS.

“Temporary lang ang approval tungod kay pending sa implementation sa atoang bus system. Pag maapektuhan ang ruta sa maong mga motorized tricycle routes posible ning maundang. Posibleng dunay changes or amendments sa maong routes. Kanang mga ruta maagian sa HPBS,” he said during the Aprubado sa Konseho media forum.

HPBS is one of the flagship projects of the Build, Build, Build program, which is being implemented by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the city government of Davao.

The Davao HPBS is a proposed bus-based public transport system for the city, consisting of a core bus network of over 100 kilometers, and a feeder network of over 500 kilometers.

HPBS would replace the existing jeepney network with a four-tier (MetroDavao, DavaoInter, DavaoFeeder, and DavaoLocal), 29-route network operating with larger buses (including 18m articulated and 12m bus units), which significantly reduce the number of public transport vehicles on the roadways (reducing PUVs). Small 10m buses will also be introduced.

HPBS also includes the development of public transport terminals, depots, and a driving school as key supporting facilities of the modern service; 1,119 bus stops; and more than 1,000 new bus fleets.