Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 10) — House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar filed a bill seeking to require the issuance of medical insurance, benefits and tax-exempt hazard pay to media personnel working in the field.
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Released last Dec. 26 but made public on Tuesday, House bill 6543 seeks to extend benefits to “all permanent, temporary, contractual, and casual journalists by media entities in the Philippines, as well as freelance journalists.”
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Under the bill, freelance field journalists will acquire insurance coverage under the “special program” of the Social Security System or Government Service Insurance System.
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“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,” Villar said in her explanatory note.
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“They accept field assignments bringing only their passion sans insurance or hazard pay although they risk their lives in the name of journalism,” she added.
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Media personnel assigned in areas exposed to danger will also be granted a tax-exempted hazard pay of at least 25% of their gross monthly basic salary under the bill.
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They will also receive additional insurance coverage ranging from ₱200,000 to ₱350,000.
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