NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s.No. 496
I'fj?,. ^tnaie 
of III-'
72 JUL13 PI 20
RiiCEiVED BY:
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT
PROVIDING ENHANCED PROTECTION, SECURITY, AND BENEFITS FOR
MEDIA WORKERS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
lournalists and media workers have worked as the immediate responders to 
most, if not all, crucial events and emergencies in every part of the country, whether 
it be natural calamities, wars, accidents, or the COVID-19 pandemic.
While most were working from home especially during lockdown amid the 
surge of COVID-19 cases, many journalists had to brave the newsrooms, their 
studios, the field, and even the hospitals to cover and report the news.
Despite the risks, many journalists and media workers remain economically 
unprotected. Many of them work on a contractual basis for short periods, deprived of 
the security of tenure; some even work without contracts at all. Many of them are not 
given the benefits such as 13* month pay. Social Security System (SSS), Pag-IBIG, and 
Philhealth. With the inadequate protection of their welfare, the prevailing health 
crisis was conveniently used as justification by the employers to subject the media 
practitioners to unfair labor practices.
The current age of rampant misinformation emphasizes the crucial role of free


media in guaranteeing the dissemination of factual information. It cannot be denied 
that just compensation and ensuring labor protection of media workers are vital in 
protecting the freedom of expression, the freedom of the press, and the right of 
individuals to access information.
To better protect the media workers from adverse economic effects and the 
disregard of their labor rights, this bill seeks to establish a secured basic 
compensation scheme where wages mandated by law, hazard pay, institutionalized 
benefits, and security of tenure for all media practitioners.
Under the bill, the Department of Labor and Employment is tasked to 
establish a News Media Triparlite Council which will address the concerns of media 
workers and monitor the compliance with the provisions of the proposed measure.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
LOREN LEGARDA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s.No. 496
Senate
r; ■ 
of tl;: £:. ;rrtai‘p
‘22 JUL13 PI :20
lll:C?*IV>D3V:
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT
PROVIDING ENHANCED PROTECTION, SECURITY, AND BENEFITS FOR
MEDIA WORKERS
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Media Workers' Welfare
2 
Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote and
4 
improve the social and economic well-being of media workers, including their living
5 
and working conditions. Towards this end, the State shall provide the necessary
6 
support to ensure that media workers are protected, secured, and well-compensated.
7 
Sec. 3. Objectives. - This Act shall have the following objectives:
8 
a) Ensure that media workers shall, at the minimum, be paid the wages,
9 
allowances, and benefits provided by law to workers;
10 
b) Motivate and encourage media workers to be truthful and responsible
11 
sharers of information; and
12 
c) Promote an atmosphere that is conducive to productive, free, and fruitful
13 
media work.
14 
Sec. 4. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to all media workers and media entities
15 
in the private sector.
16 
Sec. 5. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
17 
a) Blocktimer refers to one who buys airtime from radio and television
1


1 
franchise holders;
2 
b) Media entities refer to persons or organizations, including media networks
3 
and operators that actively gather information of potential interest to a
4 
segment of the public, turn collected information into a distinct work or
5 
distribute that work to an audience within the Philippines; and
6 
c) Media workers refer to those who are legitimately engaged in news media
7 
practice, directly or indirectly, whether as a principal occupation or not.
8 
Sec. 6. Minimum Compensation. - Media workers shall not receive less than the
9 
applicable minimum wage rate prescribed by the Regional Tripartite Wages and
10 
Productivity Board and shall be entitled to overtime pay and night shift premiums, as
11 
well as other forms of compensation provided by Presidential Decree No. 442, as
12 
amended, otherwise known as the "Labor Code of the Philippines", and other related
13 
laws and issuances.
14 
Sec. 7. Social Security and Welfare Benefits. - Media workers shall be covered by
15 
the Social Security System, the Home Development Mutual Fund or the Pag-IBIG
16 
Fund, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation upon employment. The
17 
payment of monthly contributions shall be jointly shared by the media worker and
18 
the employer, when applicable, in accordance with existing rules and regulations.
19 
Media workers shall also be entitled to retirement benefits as provided under RA No.
20 
11199, otherwise known as the "Social Security Act of 2018".
21 
Sec. 8. Hazard Pay. - Media workers required to physically report for work in
22 
dangerous areas such as strife-torn or embattled areas, distressed or isolated stations,
23 
disease-infested areas, or in areas declared under a state of calamity or emergency for
24 
the duration thereof which expose them to great danger, contagion, radiation,
25 
volcanic activity or eruption, occupational risks or perils to life as determined by the
26 
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), shall be compensated with a hazard
27 
pay in the minimum amount of Five hundred pesos (P500.00) per day, with no
28 
diminution, which shall be computed as follows:
29 
Hazard pay = P500 x number of days physically reporting for work in dangerous areas
30 
The base amount of the hazard pay of media workers may be increased as
31 
decided upon by the News Media Tripartite Council created under Section 15 of this


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
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. 9. Mandatory Additional Insurance Benefits. - Employers shall provide 
additional insurance coverage to 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 thousand pesos (P200,000.00) for 
each media worker who shall suffer 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 media worker of up to One hundred 
thousand pesos (P100,000.00).
Sec. 10. Security of Tenure. - 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 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. 11. Settlement of Disputes. - All labor-related disputes shall be elevated to 
the DOLE regional office that has jurisdiction over the workplace.
Sec. 12. Liability of Media Entities. - Media entities shall be responsible for all 
contents released under their name. Owners of media entities or franchise holders 
shall be liable for claims arising from gross negligence, malicious acts, and violation 
of laws in connection with the work of blocktimers and media workers, regardless of 
the nature of engagement, except when the owners of the media entities or the 
franchise holders are able to prove that due diligence was exercised or that the fault 
is attributable solely to the concerned blocktimer or media worker. Any agreement to 
the contrary shall be void.


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22 
23
Sec. 13. Compliance. - The DOLE shall monitor compliance with the provisions 
of this Act.
Sec. 14. 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. 15. Nezvs Media Tripartite Council. - The DOLE shall initiate the creation of 
the News Media Tripartite Council which shall serve as a link among various 
stakeholders, provide a platform where media workers and employers can agree 
upon mutually beneficial policies that will promote the interests of the media 
industry, and serve as an avenue to express their aspirations, discuss their programs 
or settle conflicts.
Sec. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from the 
approval 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. 17. Separability Clause. - If any part, section, or provision of this Act is 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such 
declaration shall remain in full force and effect.
Sec. 18. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules, and 
regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly.
Sec. 19. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,