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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Villafuerte tells Senate to pass bill that aims to create safer work atmosphere for journalists

Villafuerte tells Senate to pass bill that aims to create safer work atmosphere for journalists

Published Apr 24, 2024 06:05 am

At A Glance

  • Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte is urging the Senate to approve a bill that seeks to create a safer work atmosphere for journalists following President Marcos' commitment to foster the welfare and safety of members of the media.

FB_IMG_1645855217476.jpgCamarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte (Facebook)

Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte is urging the Senate to approve a bill that seeks to create a safer work atmosphere for journalists following President Marcos’ commitment to foster the welfare and safety of members of the media.

“Our journalists risk their own lives being exposed to the perils and hazards outdoors just so we can receive our needed information. It is unfortunate that these media workers are usually the ones whose labor rights are ignored, such as those pertaining to security of tenure, hazard pay, night shift differential pay and overtime pay,” Villafuerte said in a statement on Wednesday, April 23.

With this, the lawmaker stressed the need for the Senate to act on its version of the proposed “Media Workers Welfare Act”.

The House of Representatives’ counterpart bill, embodied in House Bill (HB) No. 454, was passed on its third and final reading back in November 2022 and was already transmitted to the Senate.

The measure seeks to provide media workers with a package of comprehensive benefits that are at par with the current benefits of those employed in the labor force of both the government and the private sector.

It also aims to “guarantee the rights of media workers to self-organization and additional economic benefits due them in their profession; and to create a safe, protected environment more conducive to their productive, free and fruitful work", said Villafuerte.

Other key features in the bill include monthly compensation in entry-level positions, creation of a News Media Tripartite Council, required safety gear for journalists assigned to dangerous areas, and provision of overtime and night-differential pay.

During a forum hosted by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), President Marcos affirmed his administration’s commitment to nurture a “truly free and safe environment” for all journalists.

Villafuerte said the President’s pronouncements should encourage Senators to finally act on the bill to help Marcos promote the welfare of media personnel alongside ensuring press freedom in the country.

He pointed out that the proposed “Media Workers Welfare Act” will help “motivate media workers to perform their duties as truthful and responsible informers of the people, and that they are free from any form of harassment in their exercise of press freedom”.

Related Tags

media welfare Senate of the Philippines President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. lray villafuerte Journalists
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