Statement of Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on the passage of the Media Workers Welfare Bill on its third and final reading at the House of Representatives

We welcome the passage of the Media Workers Welfare Bill on its third and final reading at the House of Representatives, as this brings us a step closer to realizing a law that provides protection and additional benefits for members of the media.

We laud ACT- CIS Representative Niña Taduran who authored the bill as well as the 218 congressmen who voted in favor of House Bill 8140 or the proposed Media Workers Welfare Act.

The PCOO sees the HOR’s passage of this bill as a positive development, our office being among those who have been pushing for its swift passage. Through this bill, media workers will be covered by enhanced protection, security, and benefits. It will also guarantee media workers security of tenure after the probationary work period of six months of continuous service.

The bill includes proposed wages, allowances, and benefits to be given to media workers along with their mandatory subscription to the Social Security System, the Home Development Mutual Fund or the Pag-IBIG Fund, and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. upon employment.

Our continued endeavor to help push for the bill’s passage is another testament to the Duterte administration’s desire to protect and uphold the rights, welfare, and safety of media workers.

Through the support of this administration, we hope that the bill serves as another mechanism, much like the Freedom of Information and the Presidential Task Force on Media Security, that will help further achieve President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s goal of protecting and promoting the welfare of media workers.

SEC. MARTIN M. ANDANAR

Manila, 19 January 2021