Last week, several meetings were conducted by Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Senator Lito Lapid, Senator Robin Padilla, and Senator Bong Revilla with the mainstream actors, talents, and producers. These meetings had one agenda: the proposed Eddie Garcia Law for approval and implementation by the Senate.

Last Saturday, the three senators, Senator Jinggoy, Senator Robin, and Senator Lito, were present at Emar Suites Events Place on Shaw Boulevard. The three senators introduced the three bills to the body concerned. The Law comprises three bills: 1) Senate Bill 460, which Senator Jinggoy Estrada introduced. This bill is an act providing for occupational safety and health standards for the workers and talents in the movie industry. 2) Senate Bill 450, which Sen Robin Padilla introduced. This bill is an act of protecting the welfare of workers or independent contractors in the film, television, and radio entertainment industry. 3) Senate Bill 1889, introduced by Senator Lito Lapid, is an act of instituting policies to protect and promote the welfare of the workers or independent contractors in the film, television, and radio entertainment industry. 

Many of you may wonder why it is entitled the Eddie Garcia Law. Last June 8, 2019, award-winning actor Eddie Garcia, who was 90 years old but in the prime of his health,  met an unfortunate accident by stumbling on one of the cables on the set of a teleserye he was shooting in. 

His terrible fall caused him to fracture his neck, eventually leaving him in a coma. He passed away 12 days after the accident. This law was passed to ensure the safety and health of actors and talents. I was able to interview actor and Mowelfund President Rez Cortez, who attended one of the meetings for the actors and producers held last Saturday. 

He gave me an update since I could not attend. “We are just waiting for the Senate to approve the Bill. The reason for the meeting is to increase awareness for the actors, talents, and producers that such a bill is being passed. We are also asking for input from the actors, talents, and producers on their other concerns to amend the bill, but it seems that all the concerns addressed by the body have already been included in the bill, including work hours. Actors are clamoring for a 12-hour limit, but the producers want 16 hours. There may be an agreement to meet in between. The body also addressed that shoot sets should have a stand-by ambulance or a standby medical team in cases of accidents. During Eddie Garcia’s accident, there was no standby ambulance or medical team. Talent salaries, health insurance, and proper meals for all were also raised.''

Cortez is elated that such a bill for the actors will soon be passed. “I share this euphoric feeling with my fellow actors and talents. Finally, a bill will be passed for our health, safety, and welfare. And I thank my fellow actors turned lawmakers Senator Jinggoy, Senator Robin,  Senator Lito, and Senator Bong Revilla for working on this Bill to be passed.”