Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. $114

The Phili

Introduced by Representative Ron P. Salo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

ippines is considered as having one of the freest press in Asia. Our

government vi the role of media as indispensable in the checks and balance of the

government.
significant infl

The risk
— they oftentit
news, provide
professionals
national and it
of ideas bet
the rights and

fen, the media are referred to as the Fourth Estate because they yield
ence in society.

that media professionals face in performing their functions is very high
\es risk their lives covering the most dangerous places in order to report
information, and update on societal affairs. As purveyors of truth, media
risk their lives in order to bring to people awareness regarding local,
ternational events. They provide the essential vehicle for the exchange
n cultures and nations. And yet, there are very few laws that protect
fare of the media professionals in the country. Thus, it is necessary

to enact a law that will promote and protect the rights of media professionals.

In this bil

established.
provide an al
programs that
value of ethi
of media pr

Further,
performance
assignments
correspondint
are properly

Hence, tl

I, it is proposed that a Magna Carta for Media Professionals shall be
is Magna Carta shall ensure a living wage for the media professionals,
josphere conducive to productive work as well as development
will deepen the practice of their profession, inculcate and stress the
, and promote the defense and protection of freedom and human rights
sionals and their organizations.

in view of the various risks that media professionals face in the

their functions, it is mandated that media professionals on field
shall be covered by additional insurance benefits as well as a
hazard pay. The proposal seeks to ensure that the media professionals
mpensated and insured as they pursue their profession.

the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

yr

RON P. SALO
KABAYAN Partylist

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 5114

Introduced by Representative Ron P. Salo

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A MAGNA CARTA FOR MEDIA PROFESSIONALS

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 "Magna Carta for
Media Professionals".

SEC. 2, Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms
shall mean:

a) ‘Media Professionals" shall refer to persons who are regularly or
professionally engaged in the collection, processing and dissemination
of information to the public via any means of mass communication,
including journalists, cameramen and photographers, technical
supporting staff, drivers and interpreters, editors, translators, publishers,
broadcasters, printers and distributors.

=

“Media entities” shall refer to all companies in the print and broadcast
media (newspapers, radio, television and online services) that are
involved in the dissemination of news and information for public
consumption and are duly accredited by any reputable association of
media persons;

“Media Organizations’ shall refer to groups, unions, clubs, or
associations of media professionals organized for the purpose of
advancing the interests of media professionals.

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d) "Front-line media persons’ shall refer to those directly involved in data-
gathering from the field and news reporting whether in print on television,
on radio, or online services such as but not limited to, print reporters,
cameramen, photo-journalists, radio reporters and television reporters;

e) "Freelance Journalist’ shall refer to a person who pursues journalism as
a profession without a long-term commitment to any one media entity.

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age He


SEC. 3. Coverage. — This Act shall cover all media professionals as defined

herein.

SEC. 4. Philippine Council for Media Professionals. — There shall be created
a Philippine Council for Media Professionals (PCMP) that shall serve as the
development center for journalism. It shall also act as a self-regulatory body for media

professionals.

SEC. 5. Composition of the Philippine Council for Media Professionals. —
The PCMP shall be composed of media organizations duly recognized by the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The organizations shall be represented
to the PCMP by their respective head or president. The following organizations shall
compose the Council:

a) National Press Club;

b) Philippine Press Institute;

c) Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas;
d) Manila Overseas Press Club;

e) National Union of the Journalists of the Philippines;

f) Publishers Association of the Philippines;

g) Federation of Provincial Press Club; and

h) Alllocal and international media entities operating in the Philippines; and
i) Other organizations admitted by the Council.

SEC. 6. Functions of the Philippine Council for Media Professionals. — The
PCMP shall have the following functions:

a) Accredit media professionals and media organizations as defined in this

b) Establish criteria for accreditation, including passing a Media
'rofessional Examination;

c) Adopt a Code of Ethics for Journalists;

d) Act on complaints on violations of the Code of Ethics by media
rofessionals, whether accredited or not;

e) Mete penalties, including removal of accreditation, to erring media
ofessionals or media organization;

f) Administer Media Professional Examination for either print, television,

radio, on-line services, or photo journalism, and collect reasonable fees
om examinees;

g) Collect reasonable membership fees from accredited media
rofessionals and media organizations;

h) Conduct capacity-building and training among media professionals;

i) Create an updated database and directory of accredited media
rofessionals;

j) Administer the PCMP fund created under Section 14 of this Act;

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k) Conduct annual awarding ceremonies to recognize accredited media
rofessionals and media organizations who are outstanding in their fields
practice; and
1) Perform other functions which are necessary in order to achieve the
bjectives of this Act.

SEC. 7, Classification of Media Professionals. — Media Professionals shall
be classified into two categories; namely: 1) Accredited Media Professionals, and 2)
Non-Accredited Media Professionals.

Accredited media professionals shall be issued an Accreditation Identification
Card issued by the PCMP and shall be required to wear such at all times when
covering their beat or gathering news for special assignments. Accredited media
professionals shall be entitled to all benefits and privileges accorded to them by law,

by their employers and by the PCMP.
Non-accredited media professionals shall enjoy only those benefits and
privileges accorded to them by their employers. The absence of an accreditation,

however, shall
professionals.

in no way bar them from exercising their duties and rights as media

The PCMP shall establish separate criteria for accreditation to media
professionals already in practice for at least ten years, including exemption from Media
Professional Examination.

Media entities may require their media professional employees to be accredited
by the PCMP.

SEC. 8. Salaries and Wages. — In the determination of the salary scale of
media professionals to where they are employed, the following factors, among others,
shall be considered by their employers:

jegree of training and qualifications;
b) Prevailing cost of living; and
¢) Imperatives of economic and social development.

a) degree wages and benefits in other occupations with the same

SEC. 9, Code of Ethics for Media Professionals. — A Code of Ethics (code)
for Media Professionals shall be promulgated by the PCMP within six (6) months from
the effectivity of this Act. The Code shall be applicable to all media professionals,
whether accredited or not.

Violations of the said Code shall be a ground for appropriate sanctions as may
be determined by the PCMP after due process. Such sanctions shall include but not
limited to suspension or permanent withdrawal of accreditation, and suspension of
benefits and/or privileges accorded to accredited media professionals or dropping from
the roster of accredited media professionals.

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The PCMP may motu proprio, or through complaint by a concerned party,
including the poner! public, investigate any violation of the Code. The PCMP shall
have original jurisdiction over cases involving violations of the provisions of the Code.

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The Code of Ethics for Media Professionals shall form part of the core subjects
in the school curriculum for journalism.

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SEC. 10. Protection and Security. — Any warrant of arrest or search issued
against any media practitioner accused of any offense related to the practice of his/her
profession shall be served in coordination with the PCMP or the local media
organization in the place where the media practitioner operates.

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The Council or the appropriate media organization shall be immediately
informed of any media professional under custodial investigation. Said media
professional shall have the right to counsel.

Any citizen's arrest of a media professional pursuant to the provisions of the
new Rules of Court on the nature of the offense involved shall be immediately
communicated by the responsible Commanding Officer of the Philippine National
Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) or any of the Departments
of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Task Force or the National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI) to the PCMP, or their duly designated officers, or to the local media
organization, if outside Metro Manila. The arresting element shall, with dispatch, inform
the PCMP or the local media organization of the details thereof, such as, but not limited
to, the place et time of the arrest, offense charged and place of confinement.

regardless of whether or not the suspect/s are law enforcers, shall be investigated with

dispatch and the result shall be made known to the PCMP, or local media organization,

or his/her employer media company.

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Within the limits of the Constitution and existing laws, utmost cooperation and

courtesies shall be extended by law enforcers to ensure the unhampered media

exercise of their profession.

Any net killing, abduction, or harassment of a media professional,

SEC. 11. Mandatory Additional Insurance Benefits for Media
Professionals of Media Entities on Field Assignments. — In addition to the existing
insurance benefits provided by the Social Security System (SSS) to those employed
by private media entities, or by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)
under R.A. 8291 for media professionals employed in the government, the employer,
whether private or the government, shall provide additional insurance coverage to
media professionals on field assignments and front-line media persons with the
following minimum benefits:

a) Death Benefits of at least Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP 200,000.00)
for media professionals on field assignment who shall perish in the line of

duty;

b) Disability benefits of at least Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP
200,000.00) for all media professionals who shall suffer total or partial

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disability, whether permanent or temporary, arising from any injury
sustained in the line of duty; and

(3

Reimbursement of actual medical expenses incurred by the media
professionals or employees on field assignment who were hospitalized or
who required medical attendance for injuries sustained while in the line of
duty.

The media entity shall pay for the premium of the insurance policy.

— This Act shall apply to all permanent,
ine media professionals employed by all

expose them to great danger, contagion, radiation, volcanic activity/eruption,
occupational risks or perils to life shall be compensated hazard pay equivalent to at
/e percent (25%) of their gross monthly salary for the duration of such

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2
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ba
a

assignment.

SEC. 14, PCMP Fund. — There shall be a PCMP Fund which shall comprise of
all collections made by PCMP, including contributions made by media entities. In this
regard, all media entities shall contribute an amount equivalent to one percent (1%) of
the basic monthly salary of the employed media professionals. The amount shall be
remitted to PCMP monthly, not later than every 15" of the month.

The Fund shall be used to support the daily operations of the PCMP and to
promote the fare of media professionals, including the conduct of training,
engagement of lawyers for those criminally charged in relation to the performance of
their functions, payment of bail, and assistance to the families of media professionals
who perished in pursuit of their profession.

SEC. 15. Prohibited Acts. — The following acts shall be prohibited:

a) Refusal by a media entity to provide additional insurance coverage referred
to in Section 11 of this Act;

by media entities on field assignment and freelance journalists on account
of the nature of their work; and

b) bio by an insurance company to enroll media professionals employed
°) em with the implementing rules and regulations of this Act.

SEC. 16. Penal Provision. - Any employer who wilfully commit any of the
prohibited acts enumerated under the preceding section shall, upon conviction, be
punished by a fine of not less than Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP 200,000.00)
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of not less th

in one (1) year but not more than six (6) years, or both such fine and

but not more ne Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP 500,000.00), or imprisonment

imprisonment

imposed on

pon the discretion of the court.

In the gene of associations, partnerships or corporations, the penalty shall be
tl

e partner, president, chief operating officer, chief executive Officer,

directors or officers responsible for the violation, and cancellation of registration with

the SEC.

with other
Implementing
approval.

SEC. ghar Rules and Regulations. — The PCMP, in consultation

lia organizations and concerned groups, shall promulgate the
Rules and Regulations of this Act within sixty (60) days from its

SEC. 18. Separability Clause. — If for any reason any provision or section of

this Act is decl
remain in full fc

SEC. 1!
regulations int
accordingly.

SEC. 21
publication in

Approved.

jared unconstitutional or invalid, such portions not affected thereby shall
ce and effect.

Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
insistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified

). Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
it least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

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