Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
______________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR ENHANCED PROTECTION, SECURITY, BENEFITS, AND 
INCENTIVES FOR NEWS AND MEDIA WORKERS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Sec. 18, Art. II of the 1987 Constitution states that “The State affirms labor as a primary 
social economic force. It shall protect the rights of workers and promote their welfare.”  
Media and entertainment professionals play a significant role in our culture and economy 
as members of the labor force. They offer news, entertainment, and other crucial 
materials to keep us informed about all the happenings in the world right now. In order to 
give the general public accurate information and coverage, media and entertainment 
professionals work day and night to produce the news and entertainment material. 
There are four different categories of equality of opportunity: formal quality of opportunity, 
substantive equality of opportunity, equality of fair opportunity, level playing field, and 
meritocracy. As a consequence, our proposal for the law is focused on the needs of 
individuals. 
There is no denying the commitment of those working in the media and entertainment to 
public service. It is appropriate to provide them with reasonable emoluments and 
enhanced labor protection under the law in acknowledgment of their significant 
contribution to society and the dangerous circumstances they experience during crises. 
By offering a more comprehensive health insurance plan, overtime and night differential 
pay, and other perks, this proposed law aims to increase the protection, security, and 
incentives for media workers. For maximum protection against unfair remuneration, to 
guarantee that the employee's labor rights are upheld, and to ensure that their welfare is 
not disregarded, this measure also mandates a formal contract that must be signed by 
both the media organization and the employee. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good 
of the Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
May 22, 2023
9:08 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
______________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR ENHANCED PROTECTION, SECURITY, BENEFITS, AND 
INCENTIVES FOR NEWS AND MEDIA WORKERS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS 
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled. 
SECTION. 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “News and Media Workers Act 
of 2023.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - This Act shall be known as the "Media Workers' 
Welfare Act". 
SEC. 3. Declaration of the Principle of Equal Opportunity. – The State recognizes 
that all individuals have the right to equal opportunity to live decently and with dign ity. 
Every individual has the right to participate and be given access to information relating 
to the decision-making processes that affect their lives and well-being. 
The State further declares that workers in the news and media sector are individuals 
deserving of secured rights of a decent life, dignity, and humane employment. They 
should be allowed to live a life of normalcy, living in co-existence with other workers who 
are living a peaceful and productive life, secured, and protected by law. 
SEC. 4. – Coverage. – The provisions of this Act shall apply to all workers in the news 
and media industry, whether on a contractual or regular basis, in the public and private 
sectors. 
SEC. 5. – Minimum Compensation for News and Media Workers. – To ensure that 
news and media workers shall be properly compensated, entry-level positions shall 
receive the minimum monthly compensation determined by the National Wages and 
Productivity Commission (NWPC). 
SEC. 6. – Normal Hours of Work. – The normal hours of work of a worker in the media 
and news sector, whether in the public or private sector, shall not exceed eight (8) hours 
per day or forty (40) hours per week. The hours of work shall include, but not be limited 
to the time in which: 
(a) The worker in the media and news sector concerned is required to be present
and on active duty at the prescribed place of work;
(b) The worker in the media and news sector concerned is permitted to work,
whether
or not such work is done at the prescribed place of work; and
(c) The worker in the media and news sector concerned is required to work in
places
other than the prescribed place of work.
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SEC. 7. – Overtime Work. – Where the exigencies of the service so require a worker 
in the media and news sector, whether in the public or private sector, may be 
required to render service beyond the regular eight (8) hours per day, inclusive of 
Saturdays, Sundays, and non- working holidays. In such cases, the worker in the 
media and news sector concerned shall be given additional compensation in 
accordance with existing laws on the matter. 
 
SEC. 8. – Social Security and Welfare Benefits. – News and Media workers shall be 
covered by the Government Service Insurance System, the Home Development 
Fund or the Pag-IBIG Fund, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation upon 
employment. The payment of monthly contributions shall be jointly shared by the 
news and media worker and the employer, when applicable, in accordance with 
existing rules and regulations. News and Media workers shall also be entitled to 
retirement benefits as provided under RA No. 11199, otherwise known as the 
“Social Security Act of 2018” 
 
SEC. 9. – Hazard Pay. – News and Media workers are required to physically report 
for work in dangerous areas such as strife-torn or embattled areas, distressed or 
isolated stations, disease-infested areas, or areas declared under a state of calamity 
or emergency for the duration thereof which expose them to great danger, 
contagion, radiation, volcanic activity or eruption, occupational risks or perils to life 
as determined by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), shall be 
compensated with a hazard pay in the minimum amount of Five hundred 
pesos (P500.00) per day, with no diminution, which shall be computed as follows: 
Hazard Pay = P500 x number of days physically reporting for work in dangerous 
areas 
The base amount of the hazard pay of news and media workers may be increased 
as decided upon by the News Media Tripartite Council created under Section 17 of 
this Act. 
Employers shall also provide media workers covering events in dangerous areas 
with basic safety gear and equipment such as bulletproof vests and helmets, first-
aid kits, fire protection jackets, face shields, medical-grade protective equipment, 
harnesses, safety shoes, and life vests. 
 
SEC. 10. – Mandatory Additional Insurance Benefits. – Employers shall provide 
additional insurance coverage to news and media workers as follows: 
a) Death Benefit of Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) for each media 
worker 
who shall perish in the line of duty; 
b) Disability benefit of up to Two hundred pesos (P200,000.00) for each news and 
media worker who shall suffer a total or partial disability, whether permanent or 
temporary, arising from any injury sustained in the line of duty; and 
c) Medical insurance benefit for each news and media worker of up to One hundred 
thousand pesos (P100,000.00). 
 
SEC. 11. – Other Compensation Benefits. – All workers in the media and news sector, 
in addition to the compensation and benefits already provided by existing laws, shall be 
entitled 
to the following compensation and benefits: 
a) Representation Allowance and Travelling Allowance; 
b) Subsistence Allowance; 
c) Longevity Pay; 
d) Clothing Allowance; 
e) Housing Allowance; 
f) On-call Pay; and 
g) Vehicle Loan. 
 
SEC. 12. – Security of Tenure. – News and Media workers shall be deemed as regular 
employees after six (6) months from the start of employment, regardless of the nature of 
employment. However, the said six (6) months period shall be computed cumulatively if 
a news 


 
and media worker is repeatedly engaged for shorter periods. An employer shall not 
terminate the services of a media worker except for a just or authorized cause and with 
the observance of procedural due process. 
 
SEC. 13. – Right to Join Organizations. – Workers in the media and news sector shall 
have the right to autonomy in terms of joining associations, organizations, or unions for 
purposes not contrary to law, in the protection of their mutual interests, and in the 
pursuit of seeking redress for grievances through peaceful concerted activities. 
 
SEC. 14. – Settlement of Disputes. – All labor-related disputes shall be elevated to the 
DOLE regional office that has jurisdiction over the workplace. 
 
SEC. 15. – Compliance. – The DOLE shall monitor compliance with the provisions of 
this Act. 
 
SEC. 16. – Administrative Penalties. – Violations of the provisions of this Act shall be 
subject to applicable penalties provided in Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended, 
and other related laws and issuances. 
 
SEC. 17. – News Media Tripartite Council. – The DOLE shall initiate the creation of 
the News Media Tripartite Council which shall serve n as a link among various 
stakeholders, and provide a platform where news and media workers and employees 
can agree upon mutually beneficial policies that will promote the interest of the media 
industry, and serve as an avenue to express their aspirations, discuss their programs or 
settle conflicts.  
 
SEC. 18. – Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Labor and Employment shall, in coordination with 
media groups, associations, publishers, guilds, and other concerned groups, issue the 
necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. 
 
SEC. 19. – Separability Clause. – If for any reason, any section, clause, or term of this 
Act is held to be illegal, invalid, or unconstitutional, such parts not affected by such 
declaration shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 20. – Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, issuances, executive 
orders, letters of instruction, rules, and regulations inconsistent with the provisions of 
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 21. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,