y
f° RECEIVED

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS :
First Regular Session ani

2104

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by BAYAN MUNA
Reps. CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE and NERI J. COLMENARES

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR MANDATORY ADDITIONAL INSURANCE COVERAGE AND
BENEFITS FOR JOURNALISTS, EMPLOYEES OF MEDIA ENTITIES ON FIELD
ASSIGNMENT AND FREELANCE JOURNALISTS, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Philippines is considered the oldest democracy in Asia, Likewise, our press is known to be
‘one of the freest. The media’s watchdog function is one of the most essential elements in the

check and balance of government.

But a muzzled media, as in the time of the Marcos government revealed the dangers faced by
members of the Fourth Estate. ‘These dangers became even mote evident under the

the Arroyo administration when the Philippines was shamefully and repeatedly tagged as one
of the most dangerous places for journalists — along with Iraq, Somalia and Pakistan, all known
to be conflict areas.

In 2013, the country was ranked as the 3“ most dangerous place for journalists by the
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a New York-based media watchdog. According to CPJ,
majority of those killed were covering politics, corruption and crime. An overwhelming
majority were murdered because of theit work while the rest died during dangerous
assignments. Only a handful of cases have been partially resolved.

From 1986 to 2010, a total of 137 journalists have been killed in the line of duty, The
National Union of Journalists of the Philippines states that 104 out of the 137 were killed
under the Arroyo administration —reflecting an exponential increase in media killings. In 2009
alone, 32 journalists were slain in the bratal massacre in Maguindanao allegedly perpetrated by
the ptivate amy of the local Ampatuan clan, ‘The journalists were covering the filing of the
certificate of candidacy of Datu Ismail Mangudadatu by his lawyers and family members, only
to become collateral damage.

Tr is in this light that this bill secks additional insurance coverage and benefits for media
practitioners and their families. At the very least, families of slain journalists or those disabled
may receive temporary relief while awaiting the resolution of theit cases.


Approved,
f , : @
Tas BUS on
Rep. CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE Rep. COLMENARE


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2104

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by BAYAN MUNA.
Reps. NERIJ. COLMENARES and CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR MANDATORY ADDITIONAL INSURANCE COVERAGE AND
BENEFITS FOR JOURNALISTS, EMPLOYEES OF MEDIA ENTITIES ON FIELD
ASSIGNMENT AND FREELANCE JOURNALISTS, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1, Short Title, ~ This Act shall be known as the ‘Journalists’ Insurance Act.”
SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean:

“Media entities” — shall refer to all companies in the print and broadcast media (newspapers,
radio, television and Internet) that are involved in the dissemination of news and information
for public consumption and are duly accredited by any reputable association of media persons
such as, but not limited to the Philippine Information Agency ~ Office of the Press Secretary
(PIA-OPS), National Press Club (NPC), National Union of Jourmalists of the Philippines
(NUJP) anid Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) duly registered with the
Secutities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or any other government agency.

“Editorial and / ot News Department”- shall refer to editors-in-chief, news editors,
columnists, deskmen, reporters, correspondents and photographers on the part of the print
media; and news editors, newscasters, commentators / announcers, field reporters, field
correspondents and cameramen on the part of the broadcast media.

“Frontline media persons” shall refer to those directly involved in data-gathering from the
field and news reporting whether in print on television or on radio, such as but not limited to,
print reporters, cameramen, photo-journalists, radio reporters and television reporters.

“Journalist” — shall refer to any member of the Editorial and/or News Department including
front-line media persons.

“Freelance Journalist” — shall refer to a person who pursues journalism as a profession
without a long-term commitment to any one media entity.

SECTION. 3. Mandatory Additional Insurance Benefits for Journalists and Employees of
Media Entities on Field Assignments. ~ In addition to the existing insurance benefits given to

3


journalists and employees of media entities on field assignment by the Social Security System
(SSS) as provided for under Republic Act No. 8282, and by the Government Service Insurance
System (GSIS) under R.A. 8291, there shall be an additional insurance coverage to be provided
by media entities co journalists and their employees on field assignments and front-line media
persons which shall provide the following minimum benefits:

Death Benefits of Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP 200,000.00) for all mass media
practitioners and employees on field assignment who shall perish in the line of duty;

Disability benefits of up to Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP 200,000.00) for all mass
media practitioners who shall suffer total or partial disability, whether permanent of temporary,
arising from any injury sustained in the line of duty; and

Reimbursement of actual medical expenses up to but not to exceed One Hundred Thousand
Pesos (PhP 100,000.00) for all mass media practitioners and employees on field assignment
who shall be hospitalized or who shall require medical attendance for injuries sustained while
inthe line of duty.

‘The media entity shall pay for the premium of the insurance policy and shall have the option to
get the insurance company ro enroll its qualified journalists/employees.

SECTION. 4. Coverage. - This Act shall apply ¢o all permanent, temporary, contractual and
Easual journalists employed by all existing media entities in the Philippines and freelance
journalists.

SECTION. 5. Insurance for Freelance Journalists, ~The PIA-OPS, NPC, NUJP and KBP
shall offer the opportunity for freelance journalists to secute additional insurance coverage
before working on war zones or dangerous areas.

SECTION. 6 Prohibited Acts. — The following acts shall be prohibited:

1, Refusal by a media entity to provide additional insurance coverage referted to in Section 3 of
this Act;

2. Refusal by an insurance company to enroll journalists, employees of media entities on field
assignment and freelance journalists on account of the nature of their work; and

3, Non-compliance with the rules and regulations that the GSIS, SSS, IC and OPS-PIA shall
adopt for the implementation of this Act.

SECTION 7. Penal Provision. - Any person who shall willfully commit any of the prohibited
acts enunierated under this Act shall upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than
‘Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP 200,000.00) but not more than Five Hundred Thousand
Pesos (PhP 500,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not more than six (6)
years or both such fine and impsisonment depending upon the discretion of the court

In the case of associations, partnerships or corporations, the penalty shall be imposed on the
partner, president, chief operating officer, chief executive officer, directors or officers
responsible for the violation, and cancellation of registration with the SEC.

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations, — The GSIS, SSS, IC and PLA-OPS, and
4


in consultation with the NPC, NUJP, KBP and other duly registered media associations, shall
promulgate and issue the rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this
Act.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause, ~ If for any reason any provision or section of this Act is
declared unconstitutional or invalid, such portions not affected thereby shall remain in full
force and effect.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause, All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 11. Bffectivity Clause, — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
publication in at least ewo (2) newspapers of general circulation,

Approved,