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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider W. Visayas musicians join call for formal benefits

W. Visayas musicians join call for formal benefits

Published May 4, 2022 10:35 am

ILOILO CITY -- Musicians from Western Visayas are joining a call to institutionalize benefits and boost their rights.

A band plays at a campaign concert for Ako Musikero Party-list in Iloilo City. (Photo courtesy of Tara Yap/Manila Bulletin)

“Ga salig sila sa tukar. Kon wala tukar, wala guid sila kita-on. Wala kalan-on mga bata nila (They rely on playing shows. When there’s no show, they don’t have any income. Their kids cannot eat),” said Ramil Duller, an Ilonggo musician.

Duller got musicians to gather for a mini-concert over the weekend at Iloilo Freedom Grandstand to rally support for Ako Musikero Party-list.

These were musicians who usually performed in restaurants and bars not only in Iloilo City, but also other key places in Western Visayas region including the world-famous Boracay Island.

“But we know Covid-19 pandemic shut down everything. While we survived Covid-19 and our livelihoods are recovering, we remain marginalized,” Duller told Manila Bulletin.

For first nominee Christian San Agustin, the issues and concerns of musicians existed even prior to the pandemic.

San Agustin disclosed that musicians were not even given financial aid by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) since they are not classified.

“We’re not even informal workers, but we are workers too. We are creative workers,” San Agustin emphasized.

One of the key priorities of Ako Musikero is having a fair wage for musicians who play in public.

The party-list is also pushing for housing and medical assistance programs for musicians.

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