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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2476
HOUSE BILLNO.

Introduced by HONORABLE ROWENA NINA O. TADURAN

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article II, Section 18 of our Constitution gives primary importance to labor as a social economic

force and mandates the State to protect laborers and promote their welfare. Media Workers, despite
being part of the labor force, are, more often than not, left to fend for themselves especially when making
danger-filled reportages. Because of their dedication to their chosen field, we are always informed of
every occurrence around us, near or far, local or foreign, night or day, be it in a peaceful area or a war-
torn location. Thus, the least that we can do to show that we recognize the invaluable contribution of
Media Workers to society is to give them their economic due and added protection under the law.

Itis in this regard that we endeavor the passage of this bill.

= Eric Go Ys Jocelyn

Representative, ACT-CIS Partylist Representatvé, ACT-CIs Partylist
Co-author Co-author


2476

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:
SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the “Media Workers’ Welfare Act.”
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the declared policy of the State that workers should be entitled to

humane conditions of work and living wage. Consonant with this principle, this Act shall have the following
objectives:

(a) To ensure that media workers shall be provided with comprehensive benefits packaged at par with the
current benefits enjoyed by those in the labor force both in government and the private sector;

(b) To motivate and encourage media workers to perform their duties as truthful and responsible
informers of the people; and

(c) To ensure the creation of a safe, protected, and an atmosphere conducive to a productive, free, and
fruitful media work.

‘SECTION 3. Coverage. This Act shall cover all media workers as defined in, but shall not be limited to, the
list below:

1. Art Director determines and develops the visual concept to be utilized for a program; supervises
design staff; reviews and approves designs, artwork, and photography, and graphics developed
by other production staff members

2. Audioman ~ responsible for assembling, operating, and maintaining the audio and recording
‘equipment; produces high-quality audio material that will be utilized for a program

3. Blocktimer - one who buys airtime in radio and television to analyze or make commentaries on
news events. A blocktimer must not be totally free from or separate in accountability from the
mother network and shall be covered by its franchise rules. it must be a matter of policy that a
delegated franchise cannot be re-delegated or subcontracted as it will be contrary to law or
deemed illegal. Blocktimers should be accompanied by regular network broadcasters.

4, Broadcaster - a general term applied to a radio or television journalist whose main task includes
announcing and/or reading and commenting on news reports;

5. Cameraman/Camera Operator — responsible for the physical operation of the camera; assembles,
prepares, and sets up equipment prior to the production and ensures high video quality for the
target program

6. Columnist — one who writes or air commentaries on matters of general interest;
7. Correspondent - a journalist hired by a newspaper, magazine, television or radio, wire or wireless

broadcast enterprise or online services to dispatch news stories or special reports and paid on a
per article basis or per day basis;

1. Local Correspondent - a journalist hired by a newspaper, magazine, or other publication,
television or radio, wire or wireless broadcast enterprise or online service to dispatch news
stories or special reports from a specific beat not assigned to a regular reporter such as those
in the provinces or some areas where the hiring firm is based and paid on a per article basis;

|. Foreign Correspondent - a journalist hired by an international news organization or network
to dispatch news stories or special reports;


8) Editor — one who edits manuscripts, and news stories for publication in newspapers or magazines,
or for airing in television or on radio or for wire, wireless broadcasting and online service and also
who manages the editorial staff and news coverage;

9) Field reporter - one who gathers news in his/her beat and reports them to the desk or radio
announcer;

10) Freelance Journalist/Contributor - one who writes for any publication without being regularly
‘employed by such publication, television or radio, wire, wireless broadcasting and online service;

11) Journalist - one who manages, edits, gathers and writes news stories or articles for newspapers,
magazines, or journals, or for airing in television or on radio, and for wire or wireless broadcasting
and online service;

12) Photo Journalist - a person hired or commissioned to take pictures for use in a publication;
13) Production Assistant — assists whenever and wherever needed in the production; escorts actors
and actresses to and from their trailers; assists with crowd control; provides copies of program

logistics and/or scripts; collects paperwork; and manages extras.

14) Production Manager - oversees the production process of a program; approves the topic
proposal, project logistics, and production schedules

15) Propsman — provides the props that will be used during the filming of a scene as well as the
materials that will be used for the set design

16) Publisher - one who manages the production, advertising, circulation of newspapers or
‘magazines or online publications

17) Radio Announcer - one who announces or reads news reports on radio;
18) Radio Correspondent - one who makes reports on news event from his beat;

19) Radio News Editor - one who gives assignments to field reporters or radio correspondents on
events considered newsworthy for coverage or airing;

20) Reporter - a journalist employed by a newspaper, television or radio station, wire or wireless
broadcasting and online service to gather and produce news for publication and broadcasting and
paid as a regular employee or under contract;

21) Researcher — researches and develops program ideas; gathers and fact-checks required and
relevant data on the program subject

22) Segment Producer — produces the individual segments that will comprise a television/radio
program; usually works for magazine shows or other multi-themed programs.

23) Stringer - a reporter working for an international news organization, network or broadcast
enterprise, wire, wireless broadcasting and online service

24) Video Editor — assembles, cures, and edits recorded raw materials into a one video output; works
during the post-production stage of the program

25) Video Transcriber — re-edits the television/radio broadcasted program into a new format suitable
for online broadcast; publishes the programs in the station’s online platform



SECTION 4. Commission on Press Freedom and Media Security. There is hereby created a Commission
on Press Freedom and Media Security (CPFMS) that will serve as Media Workers’ shield from all forms of
attacks and as a development center for journalism. The CPFMS shall be under the Presidential
Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

With the creation of the CPFMS, the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS), which was
created by Administrative Order No. 1, s. 2016 shall be abolished and its functions and operational
guidelines shall be subsumed by the CPFMS.

Any warrant of arrest or search warrant issued against any media worker accused of any offense related
to the practice of his/her profession shall be served in coordination with the CPFMS or the local media
organization in the place he/she operates.

Any citizen's arrest of a media worker pursuant to the provisions of the new Rules of Court on the nature
of the offense involved shall be immediately communicated by the responsible Commanding Officer of
the Philippine National Police (PNP) and/or the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) or any of the
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Task Force and the National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI) to the CPFMS or their duly designated officers, or to the local media association, if
outside Metro Manila. The arresting/searching element shall, with dispatch, inform the CPFMS or the local
media organization of the details thereof, such as, but not limited to, the place and time of the
arrest/search, offense charged and place of confinement.

Any reported killing, abduction, or harassment of a journalist, regardless of whether or not the suspects
are law enforcers, shall be investigated with dispatch and the result made known to the CPFMS, or local
media organization or his/her employer media company.
Within the limits of the Constitution and existing laws, utmost cooperation and courtesy shall be extended
by law enforcers to ensure the unhampered exercise by the media of their calling. In this regard, the PNP
shall, within three (3) days from receipt of a report of a death threat or bodily harm to a media worker,
evaluate the report and if warranted, provide the necessary security detail.
SECTION 5. Composition and Functions of the CPFMS.
(a) Composition of the Commission on Press Freedom and Media Security - The body shall be headed by
the Presidential Communications Operations Office (COO) and composed of journalism organizations
duly recognized by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) represented by their respective
presidents or their representatives. The following organizations shall compose the CPFMS:

1. National Press Club of the Philippines (NPC)

2. Philippine Press Institute (PPI)

3. Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP)

4, Press Photographers of the Philippines (PPP)

5. Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC)

6. National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUIP)

7. Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PAPI)

8. Federation of Provincial Press Clubs (FPPC)

9. Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR)


10. Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (ALC)

(b) Functions of the Council - The Council shall have the following responsibil

ies:

1. to produce a regularly-updated database or directory of media workers from print, online and
broadcast media;

2. to conduct seminars, skills and safety trainings and other related activities;

3. to help craft, lobby and legislate so-called media laws that are in consonance with this act such
as, but not limited to, security of tenure, anti-harassment of media workers, adjustment in the
compensation and benefits of media workers as the need arises, equal treatment of all media
workers in the grant of interviews, observance of full transparency in the coverage of
government-sponsored events, etc.

SECTION 6. Compensation Table. To ensure that media workers shall be properly compensated
comparably with those in the government sector and other industries in the private sector, the following

shall be the minimum monthly compensation for media workers:

7 ‘SALARY (ACCORDING TO NO. OF YEARS EXPERIENCE)
POSITION
Three (3) years | Five (5) years | Eight (8) years | Ten (10) years
Art Director 35,000 45,000 50,000 60,000
Audioman 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000
Blocktimer 20,000 | 35,000 40,000 45,000
Cameraman 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000
Columnist/Writer 25,000 30,000 35,000 45,000
Copy Editor 20,000 30,000 35,000 40,000
Field Reporter 40,000 45,000 50,000 60,000
Photojournalist 30,000 40,000 45,000 50,000
Production Assistant 20,000 25,000 30,000 ‘40,000
Production Manager 35,000 45,000 50,000 55,000
‘Propsman 20,000 25,000 "30,000 40,000
Rarer tae aaail 25,000 35,000 40,000 50,000
Researcher 25,000 30,000 45,000 50,000
Segment Producer 35,000 40,000 45,000 55,000
Stringer 20,000 25,000 30,000 40,000
Video Editor 30,000 | 40,000 45,000 60,000
Video Transcriber 20,000 25,000 30,000 40,000

The preceding rates shall apply to those stationed in the National Capital Region (NCR). The CPFMS shall
determine the rates applicable to areas outside NCR, and shall be guided by the prevailing regional wage
rates. The rates shall be subject to adjustment every three (3) years.



SECTION 7. Tenure of Office. Stability of employment and security of tenure shall be assured the media
workers as provided under existing laws.

SECTION 8. Code of Ethics. The Code of £1
six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act.

‘of media workers shall be promulgated by the CPFMS within

SECTION 9. Mandatory Additional Insurance Benefits for Media Workers. In addition to the existing
insurance benefits given to media workers by the Social Security System (SSS) as provided under Republic
Act (R.A.) No. 8282 and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) under R.A. No. 8291, there shall
be an additional insurance coverage to be provided by mé to media workers which shall
provide the following minimum benefits:

1. Death Benefit of Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 200,000.00) for each media worker who shall
perish in the line of duty;

2. Disability Benefits of up to Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 200,000.00) 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

3. Reimbursement of actual medical expenses up to but not to exceed One Hundred Thousand Pesos
(Php 100,000.00) for each media worker who shall be hospitalized or who shall require medical
attendance for injuries sustained while in the line of duty.

SECTION 10. Incentives. The CPFMS shall hold activities aimed at upgrading the journalism profession
through awards, cash incentives, scholarship grants, exchange programs and others.

To encourage Media Networks, there shall be an additional allowable deduction from their gross income
equivalent to Twenty-Five percent (25%) of the total amount paid as benefits to Media Workers.

SECTION 11. Responsibilities of Media Entities. Media Networks shall be responsible, and thus, liable for
all contents released under their names. In cases filed against their employees, the owner/s of the Media
Networks shall be subsidiarily liable for civil liabilities.

SECTION 12. Penal Provision. Any person who shall wilfully violate any of the provisions enumerated
under this Act shall upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than Three Hundred Thousand Pesos
(Php 300,000.00) but not more than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 500,000.00) or imprisonment of
not less than two (2) years but not more than six (6) years, or both such fine and imprisonment depending
upon the discretion of the court.

SECTION 13. Inclusion in the Curriculum. The provisions of this Act and its Implementing Rules and
Regulations, as well as the Code of Ethics for Media Workers shall form part of the core subjects in the
school curriculum on journalism.

SECTION 14. Funding. The initial budget of the CPFMS shall be determined in coordination with the
Department of Budget and Management and submitted to the PCOO and the Office of the President for
approval. Appropriations for the succeeding years shall be incorporated in the budget proposal for the
PCOO.

SECTION 15. implementing Rules and Regulations. The CPFMS in consultation with other media groups,
associations, publishers, guilds and concerned groups, shall promulgate the Implementing Rules and
Regulations (IRR) within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 16. Separability Clause. if for any reason any provision or section of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, such portions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.


SECTION 17. Repealing Clause. Alll laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with
the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 18. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in at least two
(2) newspapers of general circulation.