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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Media is the fourth estate – they are the watchdogs of our constitutional system 
and are a vital part of our democratic system. Therefore, it should be the policy 
of the State to promote and improve the social and economic well-being of media 
workers, including their living and working conditions. Towards this end, the 
State must provide the necessary support to ensure that media workers are 
protected, secured, and well-compensated. 
This measure seeks to achieve this goal, among others, by ensuring that media 
workers shall be deemed as regular employees after six (6) months from the start 
of employment, regardless of the nature of employment. Furthermore, 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. Likewise, 
this bill ensures that the Social Security System, the Home Development Mutual 
Fund or the Pag-IBIG Fund, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, 
upon employment, cover media workers. They shall also be entitled to retirement 
benefits as provided under RA No. 11199, otherwise known as the "Social 
Security Act of 2018." 
Finally, employers who fail to comply with the protections provided by this bill 
shall be liable for penalties and fines. 
Hence, this representation seeks the passage of this measure. 
RUDYS CAESAR G. FARIÑAS I 
November 21, 2022
3:39 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
AN ACT  
PROVIDING ENHANCED PROTECTION, SECURITY, AND BENEFITS FOR 
MEDIA WORKERS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:     
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SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Media Workers’ 
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Welfare Act”. 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to promote 
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and improve the social and economic well-being of media workers, including 
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their living and working conditions. Towards this end, the State shall provide the 
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necessary support to ensure that media workers are protected, secured, and 
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well-compensated.  
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SEC.3. Objectives. – This Act shall have the following objectives: 
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a)
Ensure that media workers shall, at the minimum, be paid the wages,
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allowances and benefits provided by law to workers;
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b) Motivate  and  encourage  media  workers  to  be  truthful   and   responsible
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sharers   of   information; and 
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c)
Promote an atmosphere that is conducive to a productive, free, and
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fruitful media work. 
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SEC. 4. Coverage. – This Act shall apply to all media workers and media 
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entities in the private sector.  
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SEC. 5. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
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a) Blocktimer refers to one who buys airtime from radio and television
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franchise holders;
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b) Media entities refer to persons or organizations, including media networks
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and operators      that actively gather information of potential interest to a
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segment of the public, turn collected information into a distinct work or
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distribute that work to an audience within the Philippines; and
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c) Media workers refer to those who are legitimately engaged in news media
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practice, directly or indirectly, whether as a principal occupation or not.
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SEC. 6. Minimum Compensation. – Media workers shall not receive less 
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than the applicable minimum wage rate prescribed by the Regional Tripartite 
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Wages and Productivity Board, and shall be entitled to overtime pay and night 
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shift premiums, as well as other forms of compensation provided by Presidential 
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Decree No. 442, as amended, otherwise known as the “Labor Code of the 
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Philippines”, and other related laws and issuances. 
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SEC. 7. Social Security and Welfare Benefits. – Media workers shall be 
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covered by the Social Security System, the Home Development Mutual Fund or 
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the Pag-IBIG Fund, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation upon 
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employment. The payment of monthly contributions shall be jointly shared by 
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the media worker and the employer, when applicable, in accordance with 
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existing rules and regulations. Media workers shall also be entitled to retirement 
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benefits as provided under RA No. 11199, otherwise known as the “Social 
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Security Act of 2018”. 
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SEC. 8. Hazard Pay. – Media workers required to physically report for 
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work in dangerous areas such as strife-torn or embattled areas, distressed or 
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isolated stations, disease-infested areas or in areas declared under a state of 
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calamity or emergency for the duration thereof which expose them to great 
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danger, contagion, radiation, volcanic activity or eruption, occupational risks or 
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perils to life as determined by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), 
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shall be compensated with a hazard pay in the minimum amount of Five hundred 
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pesos ( ₱500.00) per day, with no diminution, which shall be computed as 
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follows: 
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Hazard pay = ₱500 x number of days physically reporting for work in 
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dangerous areas 
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The base amount of the hazard pay of media workers may be increased as 
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decided upon by the News Media Tripartite Council created under Section 15 of 
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this Act. 
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Employers shall also provide media workers covering events in dangerous 
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areas with basic safety gear and equipment such as bulletproof vests and 
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helmets, first-aid kits, fire protection jackets, face shields, medical grade 
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protective equipment, harnesses, safety shoes, and life vests. 
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SEC. 9. Mandatory Additional Insurance Benefits. – Employers shall 
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provide additional insurance coverage to media workers as follows: 
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a) Death benefit of Two hundred thousand pesos (₱200,000.00) for each
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media worker who shall perish in the line of duty;
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b) Disability benefit of up to Two hundred thousand pesos (₱200,000.00) for 
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each media worker who shall suffer total or partial disability, whether 
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permanent or temporary, arising from any injury sustained in the line of 
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duty; and 
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c) Medical insurance benefit for each media worker of up to One hundred 
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thousand pesos (₱100,000.00). 
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SEC. 10. Security of Tenure. – Media workers shall be deemed as regular 
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employees after six (6) months from the start of employment, regardless of the 
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nature of employment. However, the said six (6) months period shall be 
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computed cumulatively if a media worker is repeatedly engaged for shorter 
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periods.  An employer shall not terminate the services of a media worker except 
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for a just or authorized cause, and with the observance of procedural due 
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process. 
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SEC. 11. Settlement of Disputes. – All labor-related disputes shall be 
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elevated to the DOLE regional office which has jurisdiction over the workplace. 
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SEC. 12. Liability of Media Entities. –  Media entities shall be 
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responsible for all contents released under their name. Owners of media entities 
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or franchise holders shall be liable for claims arising from gross negligence, 
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malicious acts, and violation of laws in connection with the work of blocktimers 
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and media workers, regardless of the nature of engagement, except when the 
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owners of the media entities or the franchise holders are able to prove that due 
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diligence was exercised or that the fault is attributable solely to the concerned 
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blocktimer or media worker. Any agreement to the contrary shall be void.  
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 SEC. 13. Compliance. – The DOLE shall monitor compliance with the 
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provisions of this Act. 
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SEC. 14. Administrative Penalties. – Violations of the provisions of this 
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Act shall be subject to applicable penalties provided in Presidential Decree No. 
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442, as amended, and other related laws and issuances. 
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SEC. 15. News Media Tripartite Council. – The DOLE shall initiate the 
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creation of the News Media Tripartite Council which shall serve as a link among 
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various stakeholders, provide a platform where media workers and employers 
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can agree upon mutually beneficial policies that will promote the interests of the 
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media industry, and serve as an avenue to express their aspirations, discuss 
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their programs or settle conflicts. 
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SEC. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) 
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days from the approval of this Act, the Secretary of Labor and Employment shall, 
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in coordination with media groups, associations, publishers, guilds and other 
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concerned groups, issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement the 
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provisions of this Act. 
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SEC. 17. Separability Clause. – If any part, section or provision of this 
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Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by 
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such declaration shall remain in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 18. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules, 
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and regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed 
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or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 19. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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