Definitions
- Valenzuela Day: Celebrated on November 12, commemorating the foundation of Valenzuela (formerly Polo, Bulacan) in 1623.
- Elderly Month: Observed yearly in October to celebrate elderly rights.
- Tours or Organized Group Activities: Groups exceeding ten senior citizens engaged in a group activity or tour.
- Administrative Penalty/Fine: Monetary fines imposed by local government as a cost-effective enforcement alternative to court prosecution.
Scope and Guidelines for Privilege Availment
- Eligible senior citizens must present a Senior Citizen Identification Card to authorized cinema personnel.
- Accompanying persons must pay regular admission fees.
- Privilege available only on Valenzuela Day (whole day), Senior Citizens' Birthday Month (Monday to Friday), and Elderly Month in October (Monday to Friday).
- Privilege is not available weekends, during the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), advance or special screenings, except the last day of MMFF film showing in January.
- Privilege does not extend to tours or organized group activities.
- Theater operators may require presentation of identification to prevent unauthorized usage.
Publication and Posting Requirements
- Ordinance copies must be published once in a newspaper of general circulation.
- Posting must be done conspicuously at ticket booths and theater lobbies.
Administrative Penalties
- Refusal to grant free admission to qualified senior citizens results in escalating fines:
- First offense: Php 5,000
- Second offense: Php 10,000
- Third offense: Php 15,000
- Complaints filed with Office of Senior Citizen's Affairs (OSCA), coordinated with Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) and Task Force Disiplina.
Criminal Penalties
- Owners/operators refusing admission face fines and potential imprisonment:
- First offense: Fine of Php 5,000 or up to 1 month imprisonment, or both.
- Second offense: Fine of Php 10,000 or imprisonment 1-2 months, or both.
- Third offense: Fine of Php 15,000 or imprisonment 2-3 months, or both.
- Penalties apply to managers or executives if the offender is a business entity.
- Administrative penalties are collected during business license renewal.
Implementation and Administration
- The City Mayor's office is tasked to formulate the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).
Information Dissemination
- Copies of the ordinance to be distributed to all cinemas, OSCA, BPLO, and Department of Trade and Industry (Valenzuela City Office).
Repeal and Effectivity
- Previous inconsistent ordinances and rules are repealed or modified accordingly.
- The ordinance takes effect 15 days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation.