‘Creative work is work’: Poe lauds passage of ‘Eddie Garcia’ bill
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Grace Poe said on Tuesday that the Senate’s recently approved Eddie Garcia bill will spotlight entertainment industry workers as it seeks to improve their working conditions.
On Monday, Senate Bill No. 2505, also known as the Eddie Garcia bill, passed its third and final reading in the Senate with 22 affirmative votes, no negative votes, and no abstentions.
READ: ‘Eddie Garcia’ bill gets Senate OK on final reading
“Like a rebirth of the entertainment industry, we see this legislation ushering a new beginning where the people behind the camera will be in the spotlight — protected, decently paid, and thriving,” Poe was quoted as saying in a statement released by her office.
Upon the Senate’s approval of the bill, Senator Jinggoy Estrada said that the bill pushes for a strict implementation of working hours, wages, and social security benefits for laborers in the entertainment industry.
“Matagal nang hinaing ng industriya na mabigyan ng karampatang benepisyo at proteksyon ang lahat ng mga manggagawa nito. Panahon na para suportahan natin ang pagsasabatas ng kanilang mga karapatan,” Poe, who is one of the bill’s advocates, continued.
(The industry has long been clamoring for all its workers to be given proper benefits and protection. It is time for us to support the enactment of their rights into law.)
“Creative work is work. Employees in the industry deserve just compensation, benefits, and a humane work environment,” she added.
Poe further said that the bill was personal to her since Garcia was the “best buddy” of her late father, movie star and National Artist Fernando Poe Jr.
READ: GMA Network ‘deeply mourns’ death of Eddie Garcia
Garcia died in 2019 after suffering a neck injury following an accident while shooting for a television series.
“The death of a dear friend and beloved icon, Eddie Garcia, due to poor working conditions in the industry was sadly not the first, but it should be the last,” the senator noted.
