Film, cultural workers in the ‘blindspot’ of gov’t aid programs — FDCP

MANILA, Philippines — While the country’s entertainment industry is among the most “hard-hit” by the COVID-19 pandemic, audio-visual and cultural workers appear to be in the “blindspot” of the government’s cash assistance programs.

Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) chairperson Liza Diño on Friday appealed to the government to extend more assistance to workers from the entertainment industry who are “in between” the formal and informal sectors.

“Talagang medyo blindspot dahil yung mga government programs natin ay nasa formal sector, masasabi mong mga employees, at yung mga nasa vulnerable sector natin para sa DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development). Pero kasi, in between ang ating mga cultural workers, film workers, audio-visual workers,” Diño said during the Laging Handa briefing.

(There seems to be a blindspot since our government programs target those who are in the formal sector, those who are employees while those from the vulnerable sector are covered by the DSWD. However, our cultural workers, film workers and audio-visual workers are in between.)

“Hindi sila formal sector dahil mga ‘no work, no pay,’ freelancers. So walang magsusubmit ng application on their behalf kasi dapat employer ang magsusubmit noon. At hindi naman sila pwede sa DSWD dahil ang prayoridad natin dito ay ang mga informal sector na nasa vulnerable situation,” she added.

(They are not from the formal sector since they are under a no work, no pay scheme and are freelancers. They don’t have employers who will submit requirements on their behalf. They’re also not covered under the DSWD since its priority are those from the informal sectors and are under vulnerable situations.)

While the FDCP rolled out its own assistance program for those in the entertainment industry, Diño said the agency’s limited budget prevents them from reaching out to more displaced workers.

“Hanggang 5,000 workers lang ang kaya naming ma-cover. Sa dinadami dami ng mga manggagawa, nasa 150,000 conservatively sa film and audiovisual industry pa lang. At I think more than 200,000 workers naman sa live events industry,” Diño said.

(We can only cover up to 5,000 workers. There are conservatively 150,000 workers in the film and audio-visual industry while over 200,000 workers in the live events industry.)

To aid them amid the coronavirus pandemic, the FDCP earlier launched its disaster/emergency assistance and relief (DEAR) program which provides a one-time P8,000 cash assistance to qualified freelance, entertainment press or live performance workers.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) also earlier bared a P63-million fund to support the arts and culture sector affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Sana sa gagawing economic stimulus bill ngayon at package ng ating mga frontline agencies at ng Kongreso, sana po ay masama ang aming industriya sa bibigyan ng direktang suporta dahil kailangan po talaga natin na mabigyan sila ng tulong,” Diño appealed.

(I hope that in the crafting of an economic stimulus bill or package of frontline agencies and Congress, our industry will be given direct support because we need to extend help to the workers.)

Since parts of the country were placed on quarantine since mid-March, businesses including those involved in leisure and entertainment were shuttered.

Cinemas and theaters remain barred from resuming operations even as quarantine restrictions were eased in areas that are considered low-risk for the coronavirus transmission.

EDV