In an interview, City Councilor Temujin Tek Ocampo who is also the vice chairperson of the Committee on Social Services, bared that the measure was unanimously approved by all the councilors present during the session.
Ocampo said the ordinance entitled Persons with Disability Free Movie Privilege was pushed by the chair of the Committee on Games and Amusement, Councilor Jessica Bonguyan in the plenary to give some sort of relaxation on the part of the said sector.
"I think it's a high time to give this privilege to our brothers and sisters in the said sector just like our senior citizens," Ocampo said.
He said under the proposal, the privilege is exclusively for the residents of Davao City bearing the PWD identification card issued by the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
Ocampo also clarified that the privilege is only for the PWD and not extended to the chaperone or guardian who will accompany them.
He said after its passage in the plenary, the measure will be transmitted to the office of Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte for approval. Next to approval is publication, and 15 days after this, the ordinance will be implemented.
Under section 3 of the proposed ordinance, the free movie privilege shall be non-transferrable and may be only availed by a PWD.
"If the PWD cannot personally transact with the cinema personnel, he/she may be represented by his/her companion for transaction purposes, provided, they are present during the transaction," the ordinance stated.
Cinema operators must implement a no PWD ID, no entry policy since it is a requirement set in the proposal.
The privilege only applies to a regular cinema and not to special theatres like Dolby ATMOS, 3D, 4D, Imax and Director's Club.
"For blockbuster films, the free movie privilege may be only availed during its second week," the ordinance said.
It stated that the privilege does not extend to screenings for special events such as sponsored movie premiers, pay-per-view and others.
The ordinance said the Persons with Disabilities Affairs Office (PDAO) will issue availing PWD with a movie pass booklet which contain the serial number, beneficiary'so name, photo, ID number address, and signature.
"The booklet shall also contain the dates and number of movies that the PWD may avail of during the entire year," it stated.
The proposed local legislation stated that the privilege can be only availed once a week which is every Monday and during the first screening only.
"However, cinemas are not prohibited from offering the free privilege on additional days of the week," the ordinance said.
The free movie pass is good for one screening only per week and if the PWD opt to screen another film on the scheduled free movie day, they will pay the regular fee with 20 percent discount as mandated by the Republic Act 7277 or the Magna Carta Act for Disabled Persons.
During the free movie day, cinema operators are mandated to allot at least five percent of its total seating capacity for the availing PWD.
"The free movie privilege granted to the PWD under this ordinance shall be counted as cinema's corporate social responsibility program," the ordinance said.
Photo file from SM Lanang Premier Cinema
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