Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 28) — A Senate hearing on Monday turned the spotlight on the Department of Labor and Employment’s alleged failure to inspect television and movie production sets.
“Ang tagal-tagal ko nang nanonood at nagpo-produce, parang wala naman akong nakikitang nag-iinspect na DOLE (I have long been watching and producing but I haven’t seen any DOLE personnel doing inspections),” Senator Imee Marcos said during a joint Senate committee hearing on various bills promoting the safety and welfare of media workers.
Among the bills tackled was the proposed “Eddie Garcia Act,” named after the veteran actor who died in June 2019 following an on-set accident in a teleserye taping -– a controversy that prompted discussions on workplace safety in the entertainment industry.
DOLE Assistant Secretary Teresita Cucueco said the department asks its regional offices to conduct inspections upon receiving information from the Film Development Council of the Philippines about the schedules and locations of tapings. But FDCP chairperson Liza Diño, an actress herself, said it’s not easy to submit timely information, considering the ever-changing venues and dates.
“That’s true they (DOLE) want to inspect. But… there is no standardized registration when it comes to understanding where they (the tapings) are,” Diño said. “Lagi pong (It’s always) after the fact.”
“This is something we can revisit as government agencies to see how we can be more proactive instead of being reactive to these situations,” she added.
Cucueco said they also responded to complaints but cited an instance when the taping was already “packed up” by the time DOLE inspectors reached the location.
She said moving forward, the department will make the necessary changes to prioritize these inspections.
“DOLE will prioritize inspection for the movie production, media (sets). This has been the major crux of all the concerns because sinasabi niyo nga po (like you said), because of this lack of this enforcement…all the work-related incidents have arisen,” she added.
“The location shoots can really be happening everywhere, and we have to be on our toes and it’s also needing proper coordination,” she said.
Trade Union Congress of the Philippines vice president Luis Corral said they were “scandalized” by the lack of enforcement, noting that entertainment workers have long been subjected to “gross violations” of occupational safety and health standards.
Cucueco said the DOLE will also look into other concerns in the entertainment industry, including the excruciatingly long work hours, wage issues, and contractualization.
The group AKTOR of the League of Filipino Actors also submitted its list of proposals to the Senate, which includes putting a 12-hour cap on the work hours in production sets.
“We accept that imposible talaga na matapos namin ng walong oras. Kaya ang apela namin, baka maaaring ilagay siya ng 12 hours cap, excluding mealtime,” AKTOR chairman Dingdong Dantes said.
[Translation: We accept that it’s really impossible to finish within eight hours. That’s why our appeal is maybe we can put a 12-hour cap, excluding mealtime.]
