DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — Senior citizens in Dumaguete City can now watch movies for free every Tuesday.
This after a new ordinance was enacted by the city government on June 20, allowing all qualified senior citizens to enjoy the latest releases at Robinsons Dumaguete Movieworld every Tuesday, excluding holidays.
Grace Gadiana, a 63-year-old resident of Dumaguete City, expressed her excitement about the new ordinance.
“It’s nice and it’s a privilege that they have given us seniors in Dumaguete this joy, and it’s free,” Gadiana said as she lined up to avail herself of the free movie at Robinsons MovieWorld.
She added that this initiative provides an excellent opportunity for senior citizens to bond with one another and spend quality time enjoying movies.
Arturo Maravillas, 82 years old, was among the first to take advantage of the free movie screening.
“I stayed in Manila for more than 20 years, and it’s wonderful to have this in Dumaguete now. It’s much better than staying at home or watching Netflix. The environment here is great, so it’s really good,” Maravillas shared.
For many, it is not just about watching movies but also about the sense of community it fosters.
Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo expressed his enthusiasm for the new ordinance.
“Aside from the pleasure of watching the latest movies for free, they can also enjoy the cool and comfortable ambiance at mall, making their movie-going experience even more delightful,” said Remollo.
The city government passed the ordinance that offers free movie privileges to eligible senior citizens in Dumaguete in recognition of their valuable contributions to the city’s progress.
The ordinance, which grants free movie privileges to all qualified senior citizens in the city, was originally authored by Lilani Ramon during her tenure as a city councilor and co-authored by Councilor Antonio J. Remollo.
The implementing rules and regulations state that qualified senior citizens must be at least 60 years old, residents of Dumaguete City, and registered with the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA).
They will then receive a special ID from the City Mayor’s Office in coordination with OSCA.
This ID, along with their Senior Citizen’s ID, grants them entrance to the movie house.
Cinema management may set policies for ID validation and ticket issuance if needed. (JCT/PIA Negros Oriental with reports from SU Interns Joriz Palermo & Angelikka Remollo)
