SP mulls free movie privilege to senior citizens
BACOLOD CITY – Senior citizens here may soon watch a movie for free. That is if the proposed ordinance granting free movie privilege to all qualified senior citizens of the city is passed by the Sangguniang Panglungsod.
Six members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod sponsor the proposed ordinance.
One of the authors, Councilor Dindo Ramos said, that "most of these senior citizens, if not all, are already in the twilight of their storied life and that they have limited means of entertainment as they usually stay at home, probably for lack of financial means to enjoy life at its fullest as they are most of the time, dependent on their children or grandchildren for support."
The proposed ordinance contend that there is no better way for the city government to express its appreciation for the contribution of our senior citizens to community building and for molding a better community for our younger generation to enjoy, than by making them feel that they are special and that the city cares for them.
Ramos said, based on the ordinance those qualified are senior citizens who are residents of Bacolod City for at least one (1) year, a registered voter of Bacolod City and earning not more than P120,000.
"There will be mechanism and procedures to observed with and this will include the designation of two (2) specially designed tickets every month by the Office of the City Mayor in coordination with the office of the Senior Citizens Association which will serve as his pass for his entrance together with the Senior Citizen's Identification Card," Ramos said.
He added that the city shall furnish all theater owners of the master list of all qualified senior citizens. Ramos further emphasized that every month, the theater owners shall prepare a report summarizing the collectibles it has with the city by way of that privilege which shall be offset from the amusement tax due to the city.
Ramos said that in the event that the collectibles of the theater owners are more than their payable to the city by way of amusement taxes, a tax credit certificate shall be issued in its favor chargeable against their future tax liabilities to the city government.