ONE of the principal authors of a proposed law that seeks to provide media workers more protection and benefits is optimistic that the bill will be passed by the Senate before Congress goes on recess from Feb. 5 to May 22 for the May elections.

Rep. Rowena Niña O. Taduran, who authored the proposed Media Workers Welfare Act, said the House of Representatives is currently discussing the bill with the Senate labor committee chaired by Senator Emmanuel Joel Villanueva for any adjustments in the bill.

“As of this time, Sen. Villanueva and his committee promised to bring the Senate version of the bill in the plenary for further deliberation and committed to pass it before the election campaign begins,” Ms. Taduran told BusinessWorld in an email. 

“We are in constant communication with the Senate to ensure the passage of the bill,” said the representative of the Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) party-list.

“This law is way overdue. Our media workers have been overworked and underappreciated. Especially during election period, which is a very dangerous time to be out in the field,” 1-PACMAN Rep. Enrico A. Pineda, who co-authored the bill, said on Viber. 

The bill aims to give media workers more benefits, including job security, provision of protective equipment and hazard pay when covering dangerous zones or events, and insurance coverage in case of death or disability. 

Under the bill, the Department of Labor and Employment will create a News Media Tripartite Council for settling conflicts and crafting mutually beneficial policies. — Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan

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