Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas Representative Camille Villar said that journalists and mediamen—whether in print, radio, TV or digital platforms—“accept frontline field assignments bringing only their passion without insurance or hazard pay.
He said newsmen risk their lives in the name of the Fourth Estate profession.
Under Villar’s proposed bill filed December 6, 2022, all practicing journalists will be entitled to insurance, tax-exempt hazard pay and other incentives, whether they are permanent, temporary, contractual or casual journalists being employed by media firms in the Philippines.
The bill stipulates that freelance journalists are also entitled to insurance benefits, with the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System being mandated to create a special coverage for them, specifically when they are covering war zones and calamity affected areas..
“During important assignments, journalists face the most dangerous situations like typhoons, disasters, floods, riots, war and conflicts, to name a few, in order to deliver the news to the public. It is time that they get the respect not only for the type of work that they are doing but also in the form of benefits that are long overdue. While some may not enjoy decent wages, it is necessary that journalists enjoy these perks as they have families that rely on them,” Villar said.
