THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
~ 
E 3  :I 1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
S.B. No. 
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to protect the welfare of journalists, instituting for the purpose a 
comprehensive benefits and compensation package. 
One of the main requisites of democracy is a vibrant, dynamic media. 
Philippines, being a democratic country, cannot sustain and preserve its liberal ideas 
and principles without such media. 
Journalists - the leading source of news and information - risk their life and limb 
in order to make the public aware of the events happening in and out of the country. 
There have been reliable reports, however, involving some exploitative publishing firms 
that abuse and trample on the rights of journalists. These media outfits do not provide 
journalists with security of tenure, humane work conditions, just wages and a 
comprehensive benefits package. Journalists do not enjoy additional compensation 
such as hazard pay, night differential, and insurance. Moreover, many of them have 
been subjected to physical harm by criminal elements and even by some rotten and 
abusive members of the Philippine National Police (PNP). Take as instance the case of 
Ferdinand Reyes, Carlos Sanchez, and many others that were either killed or severely 
injured in the line of duty. 
Considering these abuses against journalists, it has been urgently necessary for 
the enactment of a law that will: effectively deter physical abuse against journalists 
through the imposition of stiff penalties; provide for security to journalists through 
standardized policies on their work conditions, salary, and reasonable benefits package. 
Journalists, being constantly exposed to danger, should be accorded greater 
financial and social security to motivate and encourage them to better perform their 
duties and responsibilities as truthful informers of the people. Hence, should they get 
injured or be killed in the performance of their significant tasks, their families would be 
able to avail of certain benefits that will help them maintain normal lives. 
This measures therefore seeks to promote both the welfare and protection of 
journalists as front line media persons by providing social security in the strictest sense 
of the word. 
Approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
IT0 ESTRADA 
Senator 
(-3 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) s.s 
‘ / ] A  ,\yj 
20 f7’9 :? i 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
AN ACT 
PROMOTING THE WELFARE OF AND PROVIDING PROTECTION TO 
JOURNALISTS, PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Article I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION I. 
Tifle. - This Act shall be known as the “Journalist: Welfare and 
Protection Act of 2004.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy and Objectives. - It is declared policy of the 
State that workers shall be entitled to security to tenure, humane conditions of work, 
and a living wage. Consonant with this institutional principle, this Act shall have the 
objectives: 
To ensure that the journalists shall be provide with a comprehensive benefits 
package at par with the current benefits enjoyed by those in the labor force. 
to motivate and encourage the journalists to better perform their duties as 
truthful and responsible informers of the people; and 
to ensure the creation of an atmosphere conducive to a productive and 
fruitful journalism work for journalists 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purpose of this Act, the following terms 
a) ”Media entities” - refers to all companies in the print and broadcast media 
(radio, ‘television and newspapers) that are involved in the dissemination of 
news and information for public consumption and are duly accredited by any 
reputable association of media person such as, but not limited to, the 
Philippine Information of news and information for public consumption and are 
will be used extensively in the course of this act. 


duly accredited by any reputable association of media person such as, but not 
limited to, the Philippine Information Agency - Office of the Press Secretary, 
National Press Club (NPC), National Union of Journalists of the Philippines 
(NUJP), and Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP) 
b) “Editorial and/or News Department - refers to editors-in-chief, news editors 
columnists, deskmen, reporters, correspondents and photographers on the 
part 
of 
the 
print 
media; 
and 
news 
editors, 
newscasters, 
commentators/announcer field reports, field correspondents, and cameramen 
on the part of the broadcast media. 
c) “Front-line media person” - specifically refers to those directly involved in 
data-gathering from the field, and news reporting whether in print, on 
television or on radio 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. 
d) “Journalist“ shall mean any member of the Editorial andlor News Department 
including front-line media persons. 
SECTION 4. Coverage. - This Act shall apply all permanent, temporary, 
contractual and casual journalists employed by all existing media entities in the 
Philippines. 
Article ll 
DUTIES, OBLIGATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT 
SECTION 5. Duties and Obligations. - The journalist shall: 
a) Discharge hidher duties with conscience and dignity; 
b) Perform his/her duties with utmost respect for truth and honesty; 
c) Exercise hidher profession without considerations of race, religion, nationality 
and party/political affiliation or social standing; 
d) Perform other duties and functions their profession may require. 
SECTION 6. Code of Professional Conduct. - Within six (6) months from the 
approval of this Act, the Press Secretary, upon consultation with existing journalists’ 
organizations, shall formulate and prepare a Code of Professional Conduct or 
Journalists which shall be disseminated as widely as possible. 


Article 111 
HOURS OF WORK, WORKING CONDITIONS, 
SALARIES AND RENUMERATIONS 
SECTION 7. Normal Hours of Work. - The normal hours of work of any 
journalist shall not exceed eight (8) hours a day or forty-eight (48) hours a week. 
Hours worked shall include: 
a) All the time during which a journalist is required to be on active duty or to be 
at a prescribed workplace and 
b) All the time during which a journalist is permitted to work: Provided, that the 
time when a journalist is place on “On Call” status shall not be considered as 
hours worked but shall entitle the journalists to an “on call” pay equivalent to 
fifty percent (50%) of his regular wage. 
SECTION 8. Overtime Work. -Where the exigencies of the service so require, 
any journalist, who, under the Labor Code, may be required to render service beyond 
the normal eight (8) hours a day, shall be paid an additional compensation for the 
overtime work in an equivalent to his/her regular wage plus at least twenty-five (35%) 
thereof. 
SECTION 9. Work During Rest Day or Holiday. - 
a) 
Where a journalist is required to work hidher scheduled rest day and/or 
special holidays not falling on regular holidays, he/she shall be paid a 
compensation equivalent to hidher regular wage plus at least thirty percent 
(30%) and an additional amount of not less than ten percent (10%) of such 
premium pay rate for each hours of Work performed. 
b) 
Where a journalist is required to work on any regular holiday, he/she shall 
be entitled to his/her regular wage during these days plus an additional 
compensation of not less than ten percent (10%) of such premium pay rate 
for each hour of work performed. Where such holiday work falls on the 
worker’s scheduled rest day, he/she shall be entitled to an additional 
compensation of thirty percent (30%) of hidher regular wage. 
SECTION IO. Night Shift Differential. - Any journalist required to work between 
ten o’clock in the evening and six o’clock in the morning shall be paid a night shift 
differential of ten percent( 10%) of hidher regular wage for each hour of work performed. 


SECTION I I. 
Salaries. - 
a) Criteria for salaries - In determination of the salary scale of journalists the 
following factors shall, inter alia, be considered: 
1) Comparable wages and income in other occupations with same degree of 
training and qualifications 
2) Cost of living; 
3) Imperatives of economic and social development. 
b) Salaries to be paid in Legal Tender Salaries of journalists shall be paid in 
legal tender of the Philippines, or the equivalent in checks or treasury 
warrants; Provided, however, That such checks or treasury warrants shall be 
convertible to cash in any banking institution operating under the laws of the 
Republic of the Philippines. 
Article IV 
BENEFITS AND ALLOWANCES 
SECTION 12. Sfafe lnsurance Fund. - Coverage in the state lnsurance Fund 
shall be compulsory upon all media entities and the journalists as provided by existing 
laws. 
SECTION 13. Hazard Allowance. - Front-line media journalists assigned for at 
least five (5) days within one (1) month in hospital, difficult areas, strife-torn or 
embattled areas, distressed or isolated stations, prison camps, mental hospitals, 
disease-infested areas or in areas declared under state f calamity or emergency for the 
duration thereof which expose them to great danger, radiation, volcanic activity or 
eruption and the like, shall be compensated hazard allowances equivalent to at least 
fifty percent (50%) of their monthly basic salary. Member o the Editorial or News 
Department shall likewise be entitled to a hazard allowance equivalent to twenty-five 
percent (25%) of their monthly basic salary, to be given on the first pay period of 
January each year 
SECTION 14. Exempfion from Travel Tax, Terminal Feed and ofher Relafed 
Charges. - All journalists whose travels is in pursuit of journalistic assignments as 
certified by their superiors, shall include, among other, toll fees in freeways and ferry 
boats in inland travels. 


h) 
! 
b) 
d) 
7-o’~requir.e a5 a conctition csf ernpIoyrnent that a Journalist shall not join a 
jolmalists’ organization or sliall relinquish n?ernberstiip froni one to“ which 
1.1 els h e 5 el o 17 g s; 
To discriminate in regard to termre of employment as any term or condition of 
einployiner-l’t irr oi-der* to encourage or discour-age membei-ship in any 
juun-mli:sts’ organizatipn, 
To prevent 
juurnalist fror.11 carrying out the duties laid upon hirnlhsr by 
kidher pi~sikio1I; 
- .**. 
... I o harass or interfere with the elisclmrye of the functions of the journalist and 
prevent hiin’hw from performing hislher duties and r.espor\sibilities 
. 
‘ 
SECTION 17 There shall be establishod a Nationai Journalists’ Coordinating 
C;ac~ncit la bs composed of five (5) msrnber namely: the Press Secretary as Chairman, 


. 
SECTION 18, Power and Dufies. - The Council shall have the following power 
and duties: 
a) To initiate policies and programs for journalists to grow and develop in their 
potentials and experience a sense of worth and dignity in their work. 
b) To institutionalize mechanisms to upgrade the working conditions and 
salaries of journalists; 
c) To create programs for continued manpower training and development to 
enable journalists to avail of educational opportunities of personal growth and 
development; 
d) To ensure that due process is observed with regard to abused journalists; 
e) To institutionalize mechanisms for democratic consultation with the 
government in the event that existing national policies affecting the journalists 
are ineffective; 
f) To acquire property, real or personal, which may be necessary or expedient 
for the attainment of the purposes of this Act; 
g) To perform such other acts as it may deem appropriate for the attainment of 
the purposes of the council and proper enforcement of the provisions of this 
Act. 
Article Vli: 
FINAL PROVISION 
SECTION 19. Penal Provision. - Any person shall willfully interfere with restrain 
or coerce any journalist in the exercise of hidher duties and his/her rights guaranteed 
by this Acts or shall in any manner commit any act in violation of the provisions of this 
Act, the rules and regulations issued pursuant thereto shall, upon conviction, be 
punished by a fine of not less than fifty thousand pesos (P50,OOO.OO) nor more than one 
hundred thousand pesos (P100,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of not less than five (5) years 
nor more than ten (IO) years or both such fine and imprisonment depending upon the 
discretion of the court. Provided, that if the offender is a public official, in addition to the 
penalties provided in the preceding paragraph, the penalty of perpetual disqualification 
from office shall be imposed. 


SECTION 20. Separabilify Clause. - If any provision of the Act is declared 
invalid, the remainer of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall remain in 
force and effect. 
SECTION 21 Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of 
this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 22 €ff@cfMy. - This Act Shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the 
date of its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspaper of general 
circulation. 
Approved,