Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUsE-BiL`L`No.6543
Introduced by Representative CAMILLE A. VILLAR
AN ACT
PROVIDING   FOR  MANDATORY  INSURANCE   COVERAGE   AND   BENEFITS
AND HAZARD PAY FOR JOURNALISTS, EMPLOYEES 0F MEDIA ENTITIES 0N
FIELD  ASSIGNMENTS  AND  FREELANCE  JOURNALISTS,  AND  FOR  OTHER
PURPOSES
EXpljAINATORY NOTE
Freedom  of  the  press  is  guaranteed  in  the  1987  Philippine  Constitution  as
declared in the following provisions:
``No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression,
or  of the  press,  or the  right  of the people  peaceably to  assemble  and
petition the goverrunent for redress of grievances." (Article Ill, Section 4);
``The State shall provide the policy environment for the full development
of Filipino  capability  and  the  emergence  of communication  structures
suitable to the needs and aspirations of the nation and the balanced flow
of information into, out of, and across the country, in accordance with a
policy that respects the freedom of speech and of the press." (Article XVI,
Section 10).
The  Philippines  has  consistently  ranked  among  the  world's  most  dangerous
countries for journalists after war-tom countries Syria and Iraq.


During  important  assignments, journalists  face  the  most  dangerous  situations
like  typhoons,  disasters,  floods,  riots,  war and  conflicts,  to name  a  few,  in  order  to
deliver  the  news  to  the  public.  They  accept  field  assignments  bringing  only  their
passion sans  insurance  or hazard  pay  although they risk  their lives  in  the  name  of
journalism. What was considered the single deadliest attack against journalists during
peacetime happened in Maguindanao in November 2009, where at least 34 were killed
and buried in broad daylight in Ampatuan town.
Under this proposal, benefits are being extended to all permanent, temporary,
contractual and casual journalists employed by media entities in the Philippines, as well
as freelance journalists.
Apart from existing insurance benefits under the Social Security System (SSS) or
the  Government  Service  Insurance  System  (GSIS)  to  covered  journalists,  additional
insurance coverage such as disability and death benefits and reimbursement of medical
costs will be given to them on their field assignments. Freelance journalists, on the other
hand, may tap a special program to be created under the SSS or the GSIS when they are
covering war zones, conflict areas and calamities.
Tax-exempt hazard pay shall also be granted to all qualified joumalists deployed
in calamity areas and the like equivalent to at least 25% of their gross monthly basic
salary for the duration of their deployment.
It is time that journalists deserve the respect not only for the type of work that
they are doing but also in the form of benefits that are long overdue. While some may
not enjoy decent wages, it is necessary that journalists enjoy these perks as they have
families that rely on them.
As such, approval of this bill is sought.
Cid-c,Ted^
CAMILLE A. VILLAR


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE B:L`L-N-o.   6543
Introduced by Representative CAMILLE A. VILLAR
AN ACT
PROVIDING   FOR  MANDATORY  INSURANCE   COVERAGE   AND   BENEFITS
AND HAZARD PAY FOR JOURNALISTS, EMPLOYEES 0F MEDIA ENTITIES 0N
FIELD  ASSIGNMENTS  AND  FREELANCE  JOURNALISTS,  AND  FOR  OTHER
PURPOSES
Be  it  enacted by  the  Senate  and  the  House  Of Rapresentatives  Of the  Philippines  in  Congress
assembled:
Section 1. Short Tz.fJc. -This Act shall be known as the "Journalists Protection Act
of 2022.,,
Sec.  2.  DccJflr¢ffo7!  a/ PoJz.cz.cs ¢7id OZ7/.ecfz.zJcs.  -The State recognizes  the  invaluable
role of the free press in the protection and promotion of democracy, good citizenship,
civic mindedness, and good governance. Towards this end, the State shall provide the
necessary support to ensure that the joumalists are properly compensated and insured
as they practice their profession.
Sec.  3.  Dc¢.7".£z.o7t  a/ Tc777ts.  - For purposes  of this Act,  the following terms shall
mean:
(a)  Editorial and/or News Department - refers to editors-in-chief, news editors,
columnists, deskmen, reporters, correspondents, and photographers in the case of the
print media; and news editors, newscasters, commentators/announcers, field reporters,
field correspondents, and cameramen in the case of the broadcast media;


@)  Freelance  Journalist  -  one  who  pursues  journalism  and  writes  for  any
publication without being regularly employed by such publication, television or radio,
wire, wireless broadcasting and online services;
(c) Front-line media persons - refers 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,  photojoumalists,  radio  reporter  and
television reporters;
(d) Journalism -the gathering, writing, editing, processing and dissemination of
news and production or publishing of newspapers and other such publications such as
magazines  and pamphlets and other processes through wire,  wireless,  broadcasting,
and online services;
(e) Journalist - shall mean any member of the Editorial and/or News Department
including front-line media persons;
(f)  Media  entities  -  refers  to  all  companies  in  the  print  and  broadcast  media
(radio, television and newspapers) that are involved in the dissemination of news and
information for public consumption and  are duly accredited by and  duly registered
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and by any reputable association
of media persons such as, but not limited to, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA),
Philippine Press Institute (PPI), Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines
(FOCAP), Photojoumalists' Center of the Philippines (PCP), People's Alternative Media
Network (Altermidya), National Press Club (NPC), National Union of Journalists of the
Philippines (NUJP) and Kapisanan ng mga Broadcaster ng Pilipinas (KBP).
Sec. 4. CozJcr¢gc. - This Act shall apply to all permanent, temporary, contractual,
and casual journalists employed or engaged to work by all existing media entities in the
Philippines,  as  well  as  freelance  journalists  plying  their  trade  in  war-torn,  disease-
stricken, or otherwise perilous areas.
Sec.  5.  Mandatory  Additional  Insurance  Benefits  for  Journalists,  and  Empleyees  Of
Mcdz.¢  £77£!.ft.cs  o7t  Fz.ezd  Assz.gr'!7#c7tts.  -  In  addition  to  the  present  insurance  benefits
provided to journalists and employees of media entities on field  assignments by the
Social  Security  System  (SSS)  as  mandated  under  Republic  Act  No.  8282,  otherwise
known as the Social Security Law, and by the Government Service Insurance System
(GSIS)  under  R.A.  No.  8291,  there  shall  be  an  additional  insurance  coverage  to  be
provided by media entities to journalists and their employees on field assignments and
front-line media persons which shall give the following minimum benefits:


1.   Disability Benefits of Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (P350,000.00) for all
mass  media  practitioners  who  shall  suffer  total  or  partial  disability,  whether
permanent or temporary, as a result of any injury sustained during performance
Of duty;
2.   Death benefits amounting to Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (P300,000.00) for
all mass media practitioners and employees on field assignment who shall perish
in the line of duty; and
3.   Reimbursement  of actual  medical  costs up  to  Two  Hundred  Thousand  Pesos
(P200,000.00)   for   all   mass   media   practitioners   and   employees   on   field
assignments who shall be hospitalized or who shall require medical assistance
for injuries sustained while in the performance of duty.
The media entity shall have the option of selecting the insurance company and shall
be responsible for paying the insurance premiums for their journalists and employees.
Sec. 6. J#s#rfl#ce/or FreeJ##ce Jowm¢Jists. -The SSS and GSIS shall create a special
insurance program for freelance journalists that shall include, among others, a coverage
of risks  incurred  while working  in war  zones,  conflict-stricken  areas,  and  calamity-
affected places.
Sec. 7. G7`¢#f a/H¢z¢rd Pay. -All qualified journalists, employees of media entities
on  field  assignments  and  freelance joumalists  deployed  in  calamity-affected  places,
strife-torn  or  embattled  areas,  distressed  or  isolated  stations,  prison  camps,  mental
hospitals,  radiation-exposed  clinics,  laboratories  or  disease-infested  areas  or  in  areas
declared under state of calamity or emergency for the duration thereof which expose
them  to  great  danger,  contagion,  radiation,  volcanic  activity/eruption,  occupational
risks  or  perils  to  life  shall  be  compensated  with  hazard  pay  equivalent  to  at  least
twenty-five percent (25°/o) of their gross monthly basic salary for the duration 28 of such
deployment.
Sec. 8. Tax Exemption and Non-Diminution Of Benefits. -HaLzard paLy for jourI\alists,
employees of media entities on field assignments and freelance journalists shall not be
subject to tax and nothing in this Act shall be construed as to diminish, in any manner,
any  benefit  granted  by  existing  laws,  rules  and  regulations  and  other  33  issuances
especially favorable to said journalists and employees of media entities.
Sec. 9. Profe].b!.fed Acts. - The following acts shall be prohibited:


(a) Refusal or failure by a media entity to provide additional insurance coverage
referred to in Section of this Act;
@)  Refusal  or  failure by  a  media  entity  to  provide  hazard  pay  referred  to  in
Section 7 of this Act;
(c)  Refusal  by  an  insurance  company  to  enrol journalists,  employees  of mass
media entities on field assignment and freelance journalists on account of the nature of
their work; and
(d) Non-compliance with the rules and regulations that the GSIS, SSS, and PIA
shall adopt for the implementation of this Act.
Sec.  10.  Pc7t#J  ProzJis!.o#s.  -  Any  person  who  shall  wilfully  commit  any  of  the
prohibited acts enumerated under this Act shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine
not  less  than  Three  Hundred  Thousand  Pesos  (P300,000.00)  but not more  than  Five
Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than one (1) year
but not more than six (6) years or both depending upon the discretion of the court.
Provided,  that if the  offender is  a public official,  in  addition to  the  penalties
stated in the preceding paragraph, the penalty of perpetual disqualification from office
shall be imposed.
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.
Sec.  11.  J77tpJc77€c7if].7!g RWJcs ¢7id Rcgc{J¢£i.o7ts.  -The  GSIS,  SSS,  PIA,  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.
Sec.   12.   Repe¢Ji.77g  a¢#sc.   -  All  laws,  executive  orders,  presidential  decrees,
presidential proclamations, letters of instructions, rules and regulations or parts thereof
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.


Sec.    13.    Scp¢r¢Z".Jz.£y    a¢#sc.    -   If   any   provision   of   this   Act   is   declared
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not affected shall continue
to be in full force and effect.
Sec. 14. £#ecf{.z„.fy a¢%se. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the
Philippines.
Approved,