Bill mandating regularization of media workers filed

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III has filed a bill mandating the regularization of all members of the Fourth Estate, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic had highlighted anew the significant role of the media in providing reliable information to the public.

“Our media workers have sacrificed a lot in the name of public service. They spend more time with their microphones and cameras, recorders and laptops than with their beds, their fur babies and [even] their loved ones,” Sotto said in filing Senate Bill No. 1820.

“It is high time that we provide the media workers their well-deserved emoluments and protection under the law,” he said.

Under the proposed Media Workers’ Welfare Act, a body called the “News Media Tripartite Council” would be created to help journalists come up with policies affecting the media industry.

Sotto said the measure would also provide a basic compensation scheme, hazard pay of P500 a day for “dangerous coverages” and insurance benefits for all media members.