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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
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S.B. No. 
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Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
"Money is what fuelled the industrial society. But in the informational society, 
the fuel, the power, is knowledge. " 
J. K. Galbraith 
The media has proven itself to be a potent tool on nation building. Not only does 
it serve as a link between our people in this archipelagic country; it also serves as a vital 
source of information, both good and bad, to our people, thereby making it a molder of 
societal values and ideals. 
As such, great importance must be given not only to the nature of information 
that media broadcast to the public, but more so to the source of this information - the 
media practitioners. After all, media practitioners serve as a gate keepers in the 
information highway, determining the nature of information that is communicated to the 
people. 
This bill seeks to provide welfare benefits such as a group health insurance and 
disability insurance to free-lance media practitioners, the communication sector most 
in need of assistance, by augmenting the present functions of the Philippine Information 
Agency (PIA), stated in Executive Order 100, to include such benefits. 
It is hoped that such a measure would encourage free-lance media practitioners 
to be strong advocates of human development, poverty eradication and rural 
development; discourage wrong practices such as a skewed, biased and sensational 
reporting. With the passage of this bill, they will now enjoy some amount of security; 
encourage them to engage in development-oriented or development support 
communication activities; and significantly expand and enrich PIA'S services to 
com mun icat ion professionals. 
In safeguarding the people's right to accurate and reliable information, the 
passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Senator 


1 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
S.B. No. 95 
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
AN ACT 
STRENGTHENING THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY (PIA), 
AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. I00 ALSO 
KNOWN AS “CREATING THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY” BY 
PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL FUNCTION, ESTABLISHING A NATIONWIDE 
WELFARE FUND AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representative of fhe Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 3 of Executive Order No. 100 is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
“Section 3. Functions. 
1. x x x  
2. x x x  
3. x x x  
4. x x x  
5. x x x  
6. x x x  
7. PLAN AND IMPLEMENT A NATIONWIDE WELFARE PROGRAM FOR 
MED 1A PRACTIONERS; 
[7] 8. 
informationlcommunication technology; 
[8] 9. Perform whatever tasks as may be assigned by the President.” 
Support the development and expansion of indigenous media and 


SECTION 2. A new section 8 is hereby inserted to read as follows, while the 
subsequent portions of the same Executive Order are numbered accordingly: 
Section 8. WELFARE FUND. 
THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED A NATIONWIDE WELFARE FUND, 
HEREIN REFERRED TO AS A FUND, TO BE ADMINISTERED AND MANAGED 
BY THE PIA. THE AMOUNT OF TEN MILLION PESOS (P10,000,000.00) IS 
HEREBY APPROPRIATED CHARGEABLE TO THE CURRENT FUNDS 
AVAILABLE IN THE NATIONAL TREASURY. THEREAFTER, SUCH AMOUNT 
AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THIS PURPOSE SHALL BE 
INCLUDED 
IN THE 
BUDGET 
OF 
THE 
PIA 
IN THE 
GENERAL 
APPROPRIATIONS ACT. THE SELECTION OF QUALIFIED BENEFICIARIES 
SHALL BE DONE IN COOPERATION WITH DULY ORGANIZED MEDIA 
ORGANIZATIONS. THE PIA SHALL PROMULGATE THE NECESSARY 
GUIDELINESS FOR THE UTILIZATION AND DISBURSEMENT OF THE FUND 
WHICH SHALL INCLUDE ASSISTANCE IN FORMS OF, BUT NOT LIMITED 
TO, MEDICAL ALLOWANCE, HAZARD PAY, GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE, 
GROUP LIFE INSURANCE, DISCOUNT ON TUITION FEES, DISCOUNT ON 
PURCHASE OF REFERENCE MATERIALS, FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE, AND 
SEED MONEY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MEDIA COOPERATIVES. 
SECTION 3. Separabilify Clause. If any of this Act shall be held to be 
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected 
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
rules and regulations that are contrary to the provision of this Act are hereby repealed, 
amended and modified accordingly. 
SECTION 5. Effecfivify Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (1 5) days after 
its publication in English or Filipino in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved.