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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS :—fele
First Regular Session x, Seine
Ne,
House Bill No._6767 INDEX

Introduced by ACT-CIS Party-list Representative ROWENA NINA O. TADURAN

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Recently, we've learned that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
recommended the grant of hazard pay for medical workers in the private sector. This
will somehow even the playing field because medical workers in the private sector,
unlike their counterparts in the government service, do not receive hazard pay —
notwithstanding the fact that all medical workers face the same danger: COVID-19.

In this pandemic, however, it is not only the medical workers who are exposed to
grave danger. We have all kinds of heroes doing all sorts of good deeds here and
there.

During this lockdown period, everyone is anxious. We are all eyes and ears
whenever new information comes. We always want to know the latest news on the
pandemic. Because we care for everyone's safety, we are always abreast with
announcements, issuances, etc. of our health authorities. We owe our awareness of
these matters to media workers — people who, day in and day out, deliver the most
relevant and vital information to our homes. Because of these brave souls, we are
able to know current events while in the safety of our abodes.

Just like medical personnel, media workers bravely go to battle every single day, not
knowing whether or not they will still be given the chance to see their loved ones.
Each day is a sacrifice for these heroes. They go to hospitals to get updates on
COVID-19 cases. They spend time in markets to monitor the prices of and the
availability of prime commodities. They stake their health by entering epicenters of
infection.

They say that knowledge is power. Our knowledge of the pandemic gives us the
power to do things which keep us safe and healthy. However, without media workers,
we would not have acquired any knowledge of COVID-19. Hence, it is but fair and
humane to give back to those who continue to serve and empower us.

ROWENA . JURAN


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

6767

House Bill No.

Introduced by ACT-CIS Party-list Representative ROWENA NINA O. TADURAN

AN ACT
REQUIRING OWNERS OF MEDIA COMPANIES
TO GRANT HAZARD PAY TO MEDIA WORKERS, AND FOR OTHER RELATED
PURPOSES.

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and Senate in Congress
assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Media Workers’
Hazard Pay Act”

Section 2. Declaration of State Policy. — Policy. It is the declared policy of the
State that workers should be entitled to humane conditions of work and living wage.

Section 3. Coverage. - This Act shall cover all media workers as defined in,
but shall not be limited to, the list below:

Audioman — responsible for assembling, operating, and maintaining the audio
and recording equipment; produces high-quality audio material that will be
utilized for a program

Broadcaster - a general term applied to a radio or television journalist whose
main task includes announcing and/or reading and commenting on news
reports;

Cameraman/Camera Operator — responsible for the physical operation of the
camera; assembles, prepares, and sets up equipment prior to the production
and ensures high video quality for the target program

Correspondent - a journalist hired by a newspaper, magazine, television or
radio, wire or wireless broadcast enterprise or online services to dispatch news
stories or special reports and paid on a per article basis or per day basis;

|. Local Correspondent - a journalist hired by a newspaper, magazine, or
other publication, television or radio, wire or wireless broadcast enterprise
or online service to dispatch news stories or special reports from a specific
beat not assigned to a regular reporter such as those in the provinces or
some areas where the hiring firm is based and paid on a per article basis;


ll. Foreign Correspondent - a journalist hired by an international news
organization or network to dispatch news stories or special reports;

Editor — one who edits manuscripts, and news stories for publication in newspapers:
or magazines, or for airing in television or on radio or for wire, wireless
broadcasting and online service and also who manages the editorial staff and
news coverage;

Field reporter - one who gathers news in his/her beat and reports them to the desk
or radio announcer,

Journalist — one who manages, edits, gathers and writes news stories or articles
for newspapers, magazines, or journals, or for airing in television or on radio,
and for wire or wireless broadcasting and online service;

Photo Journalist — a person hired or commissioned to take pictures for use in a
publication;

Production Assistant — assists whenever and wherever needed in the production;
escorts actors and actresses to and from their trailers; assists with crowd control;
provides copies of program logistics and/or scripts; collects paperwork; and
manages extras.

Production Manager - oversees the production process of a program; approves the
topic proposal, project logistics, and production schedules

Publisher - one who manages the production, advertising, circulation of
newspapers or magazines or online publications

Radio/TV Announcer - one who announces or reads news reports on radio/TV;
Radio/TV Correspondent - one who makes reports on news event from his beat;

Radio/TV News Editor - one who gives assignments to field reporters or radio
correspondents on events considered newsworthy for coverage or airing;

Reporter - a journalist employed by a newspaper, television or radio station, wire
or wireless broadcasting and online service to gather and produce news for
publication and broadcasting and paid as a regular employee or under contract;

Researcher — researches and develops program ideas; gathers and fact-checks
required and relevant data on the program subject

Segment Producer — produces the individual segments that will comprise a
television/radio program; usually works for magazine shows or other multi-
themed programs.

Stringer - a reporter working for an international news organization, network or
broadcast enterprise, wire, wireless broadcasting and online service


Video Editor — assembles, cures, and edits recorded raw materials into a one video
output; works during the post-production stage of the program

Video Transcriber — re-edits the television/radio broadcast program into a new
format suitable for online broadcast; publishes the programs in the station's
online platform

Section 4. Payment of Hazard Pay. ~ Media workers shall be entitled to a
hazard pay of FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (PHP 500.00) for each day that they physically
report for work. Workers who are already receiving a daily hazard pay of more than
FIVE HUNDRED PESOS (PHP 500.00) shall not be entitled to the benefit under this
act. Workers who are receiving a daily hazard pay of less than FIVE HUNDRED
PESOS (PHP 500.00) shall be entitled to the difference. The hazard pay shall be given
not later than the end of each month.

Section 5. Penal Clause. — Owners of media companies who fail to comply
with the provisions of this act shall be penalized by a fine in an amount not less than
TWO MILLION PESOS (PHP 2,000,000.00) AND imprisonment of SIX (6) MONTHS.

Section 6. Separability Clause. — |f any provision of this Act or the applicability
of such provision to any person or circumstance shall be held invalid, the validity of
the other provisions of this Act and the applicability of such provisions to other persons
or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

Section 7. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive issuances, orders and
tules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with this Act, or any part thereof, are
hereby repealed, amended and/or modified accordingly.

Section 8. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the
date of its publication in the Official Gazette or at least in two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.