Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
AN ACT  
INSTITUTING POLICIES FOR THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF THE 
WELFARE OF WORKERS OR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS IN THE FILM, 
TELEVISION, AND RADIO ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Lights, Camera, Safety. 
Safety in the movie/ film, television and theater world is diverse and the safety and 
health checklists are more than a piece of paper. A safety incident onsite can mean 
more than a retake, it can lead to huge losses of millions of pesos, long production 
down time or worst, even loss of lives. The film, television and theater industry is a 
unique business, and as such, presents several unique health and safety hazards. 
It is therefore the duty of the state to protect the lives and safety of each and every 
individual working in this industry. The state must likewise secure the health and 
safeness of these individual/s within their areas of workplaces.  
Last June 8, 2019, the Philippines Most Awarded Actor, Director and Screen Legend 
Eduardo V. Garcia otherwise known as "Eddie Garcia" tripped on lose cables onsite 
GMA Network production set while filming its regular television series. Instantly, 
Mr. Garcia not only suffered cervical cracks and fractures, but also left him in a 
comatose state for another 12 days. This incident eventually lead to his death on June 
20, 2019. 
The aftermath showed that the state and its people recognizes the everlasting 
contributions of the great "Eddie Garcia". The whole nation mourned the passing of 
the screen icon. It then prompted the urgent reminder of the importance of safety 
protocols on the set of any production sites. In this manner, it is the state's move that 
the "Eddie Garcia" incident will symbolize the last of its kind of accidents and that 
July 11, 2022
12:43 pm
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safety and health protocols be put in place so that such incidents can now be 
eliminated. 
GMA Network said it has been their protocol to have medical personnel and crew on 
standby whenever a production is performing. Nonetheless, that was not the 
situation on the day of Eddie Garcia's accident. 
Under this House Bill, the film, television and theater industry are required to 
provide a safe workplace for all its workers and employees. Workplace safety and 
health protocols shall be primordial to eliminate personal injuries, illness or even 
death from occurring inside the workplace. 
The House Bill likewise seeks to foster the enforcement and implementation of safety 
protocols and measures in the film, television and theater industries. 
This by itself is of paramount importance. Thus, the early passage of this bill is 
earnestly requested. 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO Ph.D. 
Representative  
1-PACMAN Partylist


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
AN ACT  
INSTITUTING POLICIES FOR THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF THE 
WELFARE OF WORKERS OR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS IN THE FILM, 
TELEVISION, AND RADIO ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Eddie Garcia Act". 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes the economic, social and cultural 
contributions to nation-building of workers or independent contractors in the film, 
television, and radio entertainment industry. Towards this end, the State should 
continually review working conditions to ensure that workers are provided 
opportunities for gainful employment and decent income, and are protected from 
abuse, harassment, hazardous working conditions, and economic exploitation. 
SEC. 3. Coverage. - This Act applies to all workers or independent contractors 
engaged in the film, television, and radio entertainment industry. 
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act: 
a) Employer or principal refers to a person, group of persons or an entity that
engages or hires the services of a worker or independent contractor in the film,
television, and radio entertainment industry.
b) Film, television, and radio entertainment industry refers to any market of
sound and visual components primarily produced, distributed, and exhibited
for commercial purposes in film, television, and radio, including any related
digital medium.
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c) Force majeure refers to an unforeseeable or unavoidable event that 
interrupts a film, television, or radio entertainment production and prevents 
workers or independent contractors from fulfilling their obligations relative to 
the production. 
 
d) Lock-in refers to a condition where a film, television, and radio 
entertainment production requires the workers or the independent contractors 
to stay within a set or location site for twenty-four (24) hours or more on a 
continuous basis. 
 
e) Out of town shoot refers to a set, location, or a distance to be determined by 
the Tripartite Council under Section 17 of this Act. 
 
f) Worker or independent contractor refers to any person engaged or hired by 
the employer or principal to render services involving the production, 
distribution, and exhibition of film, television, and radio entertainment 
content. A worker or independent contractor shall be governed by the 
provisions of the Civil Code on contracts and other applicable laws, but not 
lower than the standards provided under Presidential Decree Ito. 442, or the 
Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended 
 
g) Workplace refers to any location under the direct or indirect control of the 
employer or principal where the film, television, and radio entertainment 
content is produced and where workers or independent contractors need to be 
present or to go to by reason of their work. 
 
SEC. 5. Agreement or Employment Contract. - The worker or independent contractor 
and the employer or principal shall execute an agreement or an employment contract 
in a language or dialect understood by both parties before the commencement of 
service. The employer or principal shall provide the worker or independent contractor 
a copy of the duly signed contract which shall include the following: 
a) Job position and status; 
b) Job description; 
c) Period of employment; 
d) Details of compensation and other worker's or independent contractor's 
benefits including rate, method and schedule of payment; 
e) Authorized deductions, if any; 
f) Hours of work and proportionate additional payment or overtime pay; 
g) Board, lodging, and medical attention; 
h) Code of conduct; 
i) Worker's or independent contractor's grievance mechanism;  
j) Employer's or principal's policies; and 
k) Any other lawful condition agreed upon by both parties. 


No agreement or employment contract shall discriminate against a worker or 
independent contractor who has contracts or projects with other outfits, unless 
exclusivity is specified in the contract. 
 
SEC. 6. Hours of Work. - The hours of work of the worker or independent contractor 
shall be based on the terms and conditions set in the employment contract and other 
stipulations thereto signed with the employer or principal the contents of which shall 
be in accordance with the following: 
a) The normal work hours shall be eight (8) hours a day, which can be extended 
to a maximum of twelve (12) hours, served intermittently or continuously, 
exclusive of meal periods; permissible working hours in excess of the normal 
work hours shall be determined by the Tripartite Council, except for the 
following: 
1) Workers or independent contractors aged sixty (60) and above who 
shall be allowed, under exceptional circumstances as defined by the 
Tripartite Council, to work beyond twelve (12) hours in any twenty four 
(24)-hour period; Provided, that said workers or independent contractors 
voluntarily execute a waiver in the proper form prescribed by the 
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); and 
2) Minors whose working hours shall be in accordance with the pertinent 
provisions of Republic Act No. 9231, or the "Special Protection of 
Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act". 
 
In no case shall the total number of work hours be more than sixty (60) hours 
in a week, with exceptions thereto to be determined by the Tripartite Council; 
 
b) Work hours include "waiting time" where the worker or independent 
contractor is required to stay within the premises of the workplace and shall 
be duly compensated. A worker or independent contractor working on a 
scheduled shooting day shall be compensated based on work hours that shall 
commence upon one's entry into the workplace and until one's departure from 
work. Likewise, all time during which the worker or independent contractor is 
required to work, including time spent on ocular work, pre-production and 
post-production activities are considered work hours and are compensable. If 
a scheduled shoot is cancelled less than twenty-four (24) hours immediately 
preceding its approved schedule, all on-call workers or independent contractors 
engaged for the day who are outside the premises of the set or location shall 
likewise be compensated. Workers or independent contractors may not be 
compensated in cases of cancellation due to force majeure; 
 
c) Work rendered beyond eight (8) hours shall be compensable with overtime 
pay and other benefits provided under existing laws, unless a more favorable 
rate or fee is stipulated in the contract. For work in excess of eight (8) hours 
performed on ordinary working days, the worker or the independent contractor 


is entitled to twenty-five percent (25%) of the hourly rate or fee, unless a more 
favorable rate is stipulated in the contract. Additional premium pay shall be 
provided on overtime pay performed beyond 10:00 p.m. and during non- 
working days such as rest days, special holidays, and regular holidays, unless 
a more shall likewise be paid a night shift premium of not less than ten percent 
(10%) of one's regular wage for each hour of work performed between 10:00 
p.m. and 6:00 a.m., unless a more favorable rate or fee is stipulated in the 
contract; 
 
d) Travel time to and from out-of-town projects shall be compensable. Likewise, 
travel time to and from out-of-town or base projects shall be considered 
compensable working time, especially if the worker or independent contractor 
has no choice but to travel as part of one's work and as required by one's 
employer or principal; Provided, that during the worker's or independent 
contractor's travel time, the worker or independent contractor cannot gainfully 
utilize the travel time for one's own personal purpose, need or benefit. 
 
When a worker or independent contractor travels with the equipment coming 
from the work station to the project site and vice-versa, travel time is 
compensable. 
 
e) The workers or independent contractors shall be entitled to travel 
surcharges or transport services to be provided by the employer or principal, 
whichever is applicable; 
 
f) The employer or principal shall provide a rest period of not less than twelve 
(12) hours between the end of work on one day and the beginning of work on 
the next day excluding travel time except for locked-in shoots where the rest 
period shall be determined by the Tripartite Council; and 
 
g) The employer or principal shall give notice to the worker or independent 
contractor of any engagement related to the contracted service not less than 
forty-eight (48) hours ahead of the schedule 
 
SEC. 7. Wages. - The minimum wage of a worker or independent contractor shall not 
be less than the applicable minimum wage in the region. Wages shall be paid on time, 
as agreed upon in the contract, directly to the worker or independent contractor. The 
employer or principal shall not make any deductions from the wages unless otherwise 
required or allowed by law. The employer or principal shall at all times provide the 
worker or independent contractor with a copy of the pay slip containing the amount 
paid, and indicating all deductions made, if any. 
 
SEC. 8. Social Security and Welfare Benefits. - The employee shall be covered by the 
Social Security System (SSS), the Home Development Mutual Fund or the Pag-IBIG 


Fund, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) upon 
employment. 
 
The payment of SSS, Pag-IBIG Fund, and PhilHealth monthly contributions shall be 
jointly shared by the employee and the employer, when applicable, in accordance with 
existing rules and regulations. 
 
The employee shall also be entitled to retirement benefits as provided under Republic 
Act No. 11199, otherwise known as the "Social Security Act of 2018", and other 
existing laws. 
 
Coverage with the insurance, retirement and other benefits provided by the SSS, Pag-
IBIG Fund, and PhilHealth shall not preclude employers or principals from providing 
social welfare benefits to the worker or independent contractor as may be agreed upon 
in the Tripartite Council. 
 
SEC. 9. Basic Necessities. - The employer or principal shall provide for the basic 
necessities of the worker or independent contractor as follows: 
a) Adequate and nutritious meals shall be provided every six (6) hours from 
start of work; 
 
b) Sufficient supply of safe drinking water shall be kept readily accessible to 
the workers or independent contractors at all times; 
 
c) Clean, enclosed, person-with-disability (PWD)-friendly and gender-
considerate toilets with sanitary facilities shall be accessed easily, whether on 
location or not. The number of comfort facilities for a given number of workers 
or independent contractors shall be in conformity with the requirements of the 
Department of Health; 
 
d) Private dressing rooms, whether on location or not, shall have adequate 
provisions for proper safekeeping of the workers' or independent contractors' 
valuables. There shall be separate dressing rooms for workers or independent 
contractors, child workers, and for each gender; 
 
e) Safe, clean, comfortable and properly ventilated holding areas with 
emergency exits shall be available for the workers or independent contractors 
during location activities; 
 
f) Free accommodation that is safe and adequate shall be provided if services 
are required to be rendered in an out-of-town location; and 
 
g) Dedicated vehicle for emergency purposes shall be readily available in the 
production set. 


SEC. 10. Standard of Treatment. - The employer or principal shall not subject or allow 
the worker or independent contractor to be subjected to any kind of abuse, physical 
violence or harassment or any act that degrades the dignity of the worker or 
independent contractor. The employer or principal shall set in place policies, rules 
and regulations to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace in conformity with 
the provisions of Republic Act No. 7877 or the "Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995', 
Republic Act No. 11313 or the "Safe Spaces Act', and Republic Act No. 11036 or the 
"Mental Health Act". Such policies, rules and regulations shall include procedures for 
the resolution of any conflict involving sexual harassment. 
 
SEC. 11. Health and Safety. - The employer or principal shall strictly comply with 
the occupational safety and health standards provided in Republic Act No. 11058, 
entitled, "An Act Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health 
Standards and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof", and Section 25 of Republic 
Act No. 11036, entitled, "An Act Establishing a National Mental Health Policy for the 
Purpose of Enhancing the Delivery of Integrated Mental Health Services, Promoting 
and Protecting the Rights of Persons Utilizing Psychiatric, Neurologic and 
Psychosocial Health Services, Appropriating Funds Therefor, and for Other 
Purposes. 
 
In addition, the occupational safety and health (OSH) officer of the employer or 
principal shall conduct a risk assessment of the workplace or location of production 
to identify and eliminate or control any potential hazard to the film, television, and 
radio entertainment workers or independent contractors and shall use the 
appropriate safety manual for the industry. 
 
The DOLE shall initiate and oversee, in coordination with film, television, and radio 
entertainment workers' or independent contractors' organizations and groups, 
employers or principals, agencies, and field experts, the formulation, production, and 
distribution of the said manual. 
 
Notwithstanding, the provisions of the contract between the employer or principal 
and a contractor or subcontractor, if any, the provisions of relevant occupational 
safety and health legislation and regulations shall apply. 
 
The employer or principal shall regularly submit the required occupational safety and 
health reports, including timely notification of production location and schedule to 
the DOLE regional office with jurisdiction over the area where the workplace is 
located. 
 
SEC. 12. Employment of Minors. - The emplover or principal shall strictly adhere to 
the provisions of Republic Act No. 7610 or the "Special Protection of Children Against 
Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, and Republic Act No. 9231 or the 


"Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor and Affording Stronger Protection 
for the Working Child Act" 
 
SEC. 13. Insurance. - All workers or independent contractors shall be adequately 
insured by the employer or principal for work-related accidents or death in every film, 
television, and radio entertainment production. 
 
SEC. 14. Right to Self-organization and Collective Bargaining. - Workers or 
independent contractors in the film, television, and radio entertainment industry 
shall have the right to form, join, or assist in the formation of a labor organization of 
their own choosing for purposes of collective bargaining, for mutual aid benefit, and 
to engage in concerted activities which are not contrary to law. 
 
SEC. 15. Prohibition on Cabo System. - Any person, group of persons, or labor group 
acting as a labor contractor or engaging in the "Cabo" system, or otherwise engaging 
in any activity prohibited by law, shall constitute grounds for cancellation of union 
organization's registration. 
 
SEC. 16. Settlement of Disputes. - All labor-related disputes shall be elevated to the 
DOLE regional office with jurisdiction over the workplace. 
 
SEC. 17. Film, Television, and Radio Entertainment Industry Tripartite Council. - 
The DOLE shall initiate the creation of the Film, Television, and Radio 
Entertainment Industry Tripartite Council that shall serve as a link among various 
stakeholders such as employers or principals, workers or independent contractors, 
cinematographers, artists, directors, assistant directors, composers and writers, 
production designers, animators, talent managers, videographers, photographers, 
digital radio technology experts, television and radio entertainment, radio drama 
casts, digital creators, make-up artists, professional speakers, stunt persons, camera 
men, background performers, and non-government organizations concerned with 
labor issues. It shall also provide the film, television, and radio entrainment industry 
with a platform for the employers or principals and workers or independent 
contractors to represent their respective groups in the crafting of policy decisions that 
will affect them and the industry as a whole, and serve as an avenue to express their 
aspirations, present their programs or bridge gaps in cases of conflict among them, 
subject to the accreditation of the DOLE. 
 
SEC. 18. Rights to Remuneration. - The rights of a performer over intellectual 
property, consisting of the performer's performance on all film, radio or television 
production, shall at all times be protected and secured under this Act, pursuant to 
the provisions of Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code, as amended. 
Contracts or engagement agreements may stipulate that the performer transfers 
exclusive intellectual property rights in favor of the employer or principal: Provided, 


that a performer shall enjoy the inalienable right to participate in the gross proceeds 
of any subsequent use or broadcasting of such performance or intellectual 
property to the extent of five percent (5%) as additional remuneration. 
 
SEC. 19. Information and Education Campaign. - The Intellectual Property Office of 
the Philippines, DOLE, and the Philippine Information Agency, and other pertinent 
national government agencies shall implement and initiate the information and 
education campaign on the protection of the intellectual property rights of workers or 
independent contractors in the film, television, and radio entertainment industry, as 
enshrined in Republic Act No. 8293 or the "Intellectual Property Code of the 
Philippines. 
 
SEC. 20. Effect on Existing Company Policies and Contracts or Collective Bargaining 
Agreements (CBAs). - The minimum benefits provided in this Act shall be without 
prejudice to any existing company policy, contract or BA providing better terms and 
conditions of employment. 
 
SEC. 21. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the DOLE, in consultation with stakeholders, 
concerned government agencies, and non-government organizations shall promulgate 
the necessary rules and  regulations for the effective implementation of this Act. 
 
SEC. 22. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is declared invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in 
full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 23. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, issuances, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SEC. 24. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,