Republic of the Philippines i” RECEIVED

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES © papelOV_4
Quezon City tre:
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5553
HOUSE BILL No. __

Introduced by
BAYAN MUNA Rep. CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE,
FERDINAND R. GAITE and EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT

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 govemment.

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 fifth most dangerous place for journalists in 2018 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 go free. 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 (CMFR) recorded 164 media killings since
April 1986. A total of thirty-one killings of journalists were recorded by the CMER at the end of
Aquino administration and twelve recorded killings under the first half of Duterte
administration.

‘The largest wholesale killings in the world, the November 23, 2009 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 warlord 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.

It is in this context of continuing killings of journalists and consequent impunity that this bill
secks 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 Colmenares,
Rafael V. Mariano, Luzviminda C. lagan, Raymond V. Palatino, Emerenciana A. De Jesus and
Antonio L. Tinio. It was refiled in the 16" and 17° Congress as HB 2104 and HB 2395,

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

Approved,
~ .
REP. Bon a ae
Bayan Muna Partylist
REP. F, [AND R. GAITE REP, EUFEMIA C, CULLAMAT
‘Bayan Muna Partylist Bayan Muna Partyist


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No! Bae

Introduced by
BAYAN MUNA Rep. CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE,
FERDINAND R. GAITE and EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT

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 enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philpines 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 refer to all companies in the print and broadcast media (newspapers,
radio, television and Intemet) that are involved in the dissemination of news and
information for public consumption and are duly accredited by any reputable association
cof 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.

(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 / 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.

(© Front-line media persons 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, photojournalists, radio reporters and television
reporters.

(@ Journalist refers to any member of the Editorial and/or News Department including
front-line media persons.

(© Freelance Journalist refers 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 employces of media entities on field assignment by the Social Security System
(SSS) as provided for under Republic Act No. 8282, and by the Goverment 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 shall 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. ~ This 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 war zones or dangerous areas.

SECTION 6. Prohibited Acts. —'The 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 freelance journalists on account of the nature of their work; and

3. Non-compliance with the rules and regulations that the GSIS, SSS, IC and OPS-PIA
shall adopt for the implementation of this Act.


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) ot imprisonment of not less than one (1) year but aot 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 violation, and cancellation of registration with the SEC.

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ ‘the GSIS, SSS, 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 or 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. Effectivity Clause. —'This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,