Mayor Lino Cayetano encourages citizens to go back to watching movies: ‘Return to what Filipinos love’

Taguig City resumes operations of cinemas to help economy & improve mental health

As cinemas in Taguig resume operations after more than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, Taguig City Mayor Lino Cayetano encouraged citizens to go back to watching movies.

“Let us return to what Filipinos love. This will also enable us to help the economy and improve mental health,” Mayor Lino said.

On Wednesday, November, 10, 2021, the Taguig City mayor joined Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Benhur Abalos and Ayala executives during the first screening at the Bonifacio High Street Cinemas in Central Square, BGC in Barangay Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, marking the resumption of operation of some cinemas in Taguig since the pandemic hit in 2020.

According to Mayor Lino, the cinemas weren’t the only ones hardly hit by the pandemic but the local film industry as a whole as less films are being produced.

He said going back to the cinema will increase the confidence of producers and other stakeholders in the industry’s future.

To ensure the safety of moviegoers, the Taguig Safe City Task Force issued safety seals to cinemas that have undergone inspection, with 26 cinemas now set to reopen in various malls in Taguig such as SM Aura, Central Square, Venice Grand Canal Mall, Market! Market!, Uptown Mall, and Vista Mall Taguig.

As per Taguig Safe City Task Force Advisory No. 55, and following the guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, cinemas and moviehouses will be allowed a maximum of 50 percent indoor capacity for fully vaccinated adults and minors even if unvaccinated and a 70 percent capacity for outdoor areas during alert level 2.

The cinemas’ management is required to follow the guidelines set by the IATF and the Taguig Safe City Task Force to ensure that the health of individuals is not compromised.

The resumption of operations of cinemas is part of the safe and slowly reopening of the economy after 20 months of lockdown because of the pandemic with the assurance that all safety health protocols are reinforced in every establishment.

“I am sure that this will boost people’s morale as the pandemic has taken away this kind of source of happiness. But I want to remind everyone that as we enjoy watching in the cinemas, we still have to follow the guidelines and health protocols mandated by the City,” Mayor Lino reminded citizens.