ZAMBOANGA CITY — Senior citizens of this city will get their free movie privilege back this week as the city government brings back normalization post-Covid-19 pandemic.
The free movie passes for 60 years old and above were suspended by then-Mayor Maria Isabel Climaco as the Covid-19 outbreak raged on.
Mayor John Dalipe brought back the privilege to senior citizens with an added bonus of a meager allowance for them to enjoy while going to the mall.
Dalipe said that the free movie passes will be given once a week. He, however, clarified that the allowance will only be given once every quarter.
“with the Department of Health lifting restrictions, we are bringing back free movie passes, the target is to give out P1,000 per quarter per senior citizen, which we target to begin next quarter (April-June),” Dalipe said.
Jun Barra, a resident of Barangay Sinunuc here said that he “is glad that he can now enjoy privileges from the city government.”
“As senior citizens, we have many special needs like medicines. These free movie passes and allowance are very much welcome relief,” Barra said.
Dalipe said that all senior citizens will get the same privilege no matter their social standing.
The city executive clarified that the Department of Health recommended that senior citizens may be allowed entry to cinemas and enjoy their free movie grant as long as they wear masks and follow the minimum public health standards.
Dalipe said the senior citizens “must also present VaxCertPH digital certificates or vaccination cards, whichever is available.”