RECEIVED

DATED 3 AUG 2016
Time: fai
BY:

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
2395
HOUSE BILL No. —_

REGISTRATION UNIT
BILLS AND iNisr'x SERVICE

Introduced by BAYAN MUNA Rep. CARLOS ISAGANI T, ZARATE

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR MANDATORY ADDITIONAL INSURANCE COVERAGE AND
BENEFITS FOR JOURNALISTS, EMPLOYEES OF MEDIA ENTITIES ON FIELD
ASSIGNMENT AND FREELANCE JOURNALISTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Philippines is considered the oldest democracy in Asia. Likewise, the Philippine press is known
to be one of the freest. The media’s watchdog function is one of the most essential elements in
the check and balance of government.

But a muzzled media, as in the time of the Marcos dictatorship, revealed the dangers faced by
members of the Fourth Estate. However, the Philippines is consistently among the top countries
most lethal to members of the media thirty years after the Marcos Dictatorship.

‘The Philippines is the fourth most dangerous most dangerous place for journalists in 2015
according to the report of a New York-based media watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists
(CP)) Impunity Index, which spotlights countries where journalists are murdered and the killers
g0 ftee. Majority of those killed were covering politics, corruption and crime. Only a handful of
cases have been partially resolved.

‘The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMER) recorded 152 media killings since April
1986. A coral of thirty-one killings of journalists were recorded by the CMFR at the end of Aquino
administration,

The largest wholesale killings in the world, the Ampatuan Massacre still awaits verdict. Back in
2009, the Philippines ranked third in unsolved media murders in the world with the slaughter of
32 journalists in the brutal massacre in Maguindanao, allegedly perpetrated by the private army of
the local Ampatuan clan. The journalists were covering the filing of the certificate of candidacy of
Datu Ismail Mangudadatu by his lawyers and family members, only to become collateral damage.

Iris in this context of continuing killings of journalists and consequent impunity that this bill seeks
additional insurance coverage and benefits for media practitioners and their families. At the very
least, families of slain journalists or those disabled may receive temporary relief while awaiting the
resolution of their cases.

‘This bill was first filed in the 15° Congress by Reps. Teddy A. Casifio, Neti Javier Colmenates,
Rafacl V. Mariano, Luzviminda C. Ilagan, Raymond V. Palatino, Emerenciana A. De Jesus and



Antonio L."Tinio. It was refiled in the 16% Congress by Bayan Muna Representatives Neri J.
Colmenares and Carlos Isagani 'T. Zarate,

In the light of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

Approved,

Bayan Muna Party-fist


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

ie

HOUSE BILL No. 233 .

Introduced by BAYAN MUNA Rep. CARLOS ISAGANI T, ZARATE

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR MANDATORY ADDITIONAL INSURANCE COVERAGE AND
BENEFITS FOR JOURNALISTS, EMPLOYEES OF MEDIA ENTITIES ON FIELD
ASSIGNMENT AND FREELANCE JOURNALISTS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enauted by the Senate and the House of Representatives ofthe Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1, Short Title. ~ This Act shall be known as the “Journalists? Insurance Act.”

SECTION 2. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean:

“Media entities” ~ shall refer to all companies in the print and broadcast media (newspapers,
radio, television and Internet) that are involved in the dissemination of news and information for
public consumption and are duly accredited by any reputable association of media persons such
as, but not limited to the Philippine Information Agency ~ Office of the Press Secretary (PIA-
OPS), National Press Club (NPC), National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP),
Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), Philippine Press Institute, Foreign
Correspondents of the Philippines (Focap), Photojournalists Center of the Philippines (PCP) and
the People's Alternative Media Network (Altermidya), as among the reputable association of media
persons and associations duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or
any other government agency.

“Editorial and / or News Department”- shall refer to editors-in-chief, news editors, columnists,
deskmen, reporters, correspondents and photographers on the part of the print media; and news
editors, newscasters, commentators / announcers, field reporters, field correspondents and
cameramen, video/audio editors, producers, researchers, and others who are part of news
gathering, production and dissemination on the part of the broadcast media.

“Frontline media persons” —shall refer to those directly involved in data-gathering from the
field and news 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.

“Journalist” — shall refer to any member of the Editorial and/or News Department including
front-line media persons.

“Freelance Journalist” — shall refer to a person who pursues journalism as a profession without
a long-term commitment to any one media entity.


SECTION. 3. Mandatory Additional Insurance Benefits for Journalists and Employees of
Media Entities on Field Assignments. — In addition to the existing insurance benefits given to

journalists and employees of media entities on field assignment by the Social Security System (SSS)

as provided for under Republic Act No. 8282, and by the Government Service Insurance System

(GSIS) under R.A. 8291, there shall be an additional insurance coverage to be provided by for-
profit media entities to journalists and their employees on field assignments and front-line media
persons which shall provide the following minimum benefits:

Death Benefits of Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP 500,000.00) for all mass media
practitioners and employees on field assignment who shall perish in the line of duty;

Disability benefits of up to ‘Two Hundred ‘Thousand Pesos (PhP 200,000.00) for all mass media
practitioners who shall suffer total or partial disability, whether permanent or temporary, arising,
from any injury sustained in the line of duty; and

Reimbursement of actual medical expenses up to but not to exceed One Hundred ‘Thousand Pesos
(PhP 100,000.00) for all mass media practitioners and employees on field assignment who shall be
hospitalized or who shalll require medical attendance for injuries sustained while in the line of duty.

‘The media entity shall pay for the premium of the insurance policy and shall have the option to
get the insurance company to enrol its qualified journalists/employees.

SECTION. 4. Coverage. - his Act shall apply to all permanent, temporary, contractual and
casual journalists employed by all existing media entities in the Philippines and freelance journalists,

SECTION. 5. Insurance for Freelance Journalists and Non-Profit Media Entities. ~The
PIA-OPS, NPC, NUJP, Altermidya and KBP shall offer the opportunity for freelance journalists
to secure additional insurance coverage before working on wat zones ot dangerous atcas.

SECTION. 6 Prohibited Acts. — ‘Ihe following acts shall be prohibited:

1, Refusal by a for-profit media entity to provide additional insurance coverage referred to in
Section 3 of this Act;

2. Refusal by an insurance company to enroll journalists, employees of media entities on field
assignment and freclance journalists on account of the nature of their work; and

3. Non-compliance with the rules and re
for the implementation of this Act

lations that the GSIS, SSS, IC and OPS-PIA shall adopt

SECTION 7. Penal Provision.- Any person who shall willfully commit any of the prohibited
acts enumerated under this Act shall upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than Two
Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP 200,000.00) but not more than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos
(PhP 500,000.00) oF imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but not more than six (6) years or
both such fine and imprisonment depending upon the discretion of the court.

In the case of associations, partnerships or corporations, the penalty shall be imposed on the
partner, president, chief operating officer, chief executive officer, directors or officers responsible
for the violtion, and cancellation of registration with the SEC.



SECTION 8./mplementing Rules and Regulations. ~ Vhe GSIS, S88, IC and PIA-OPS, and
in consultation with the NPC, NUJP, KBP and other duly registered media associations, shall
promulgate and issue the rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 9.Separability Clause. ~ If for any reason any provision ot section of this Act is
declared unconstitutional of invalid, such portions not affected thereby shall remain in full force
and effect.

SECTION 10.Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 11. Efectivity Clause. ~This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication
in at least two (2) newspapers of general citculation.

Approved,