SENATE APPROVES EDDIE GARCIA BILL

THE Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill that will protect and support movie and television workers from unfair treatment and poor working conditions.

Senate Bill No. 2505 or the “Eddie Garcia” bill received 22 affirmative and zero negative votes and zero abstentions  during Monday’s plenary session.

“A product of your Senate’s commitment to put forward the welfare of workers, this is our meaningful acknowledgment to them whose work are often overshadowed by the main content and star power of the main cast. We simply owe it to them,” Senator Jinggoy Estrada, the sponsor of the measure, said.

While the bill was pursued following the demise of legendary actor Eddie Garcia, Estrada said efforts to uplift the welfare of movie and TV workers were started 50 years ago by his father, then movie actor and San Juan Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada, with the establishment of the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (MOWELFUND), primarily to aid industry workers, especially the underprivileged.

“This measure is the Senate’s recognition of the immense talent, dedication, and contribution not just of Filipino artists, but also those behind the camera who put their heart and soul to come up with material for the movie and television industry. Sila ‘yung mga walang mukha, at madalas, sa end credits lang natin makikita ang kanilang mga pangalan at katungkulan,”  Estrada said.

The bill provides for the implementation of working hours, wages and other wage-related benefits, social security, and welfare benefits ensuring better working conditions and standards as well as insurance coverage. Employers will also be mandated to provide employment contracts.

A Movie and TV Industry Tripartite Council comprised of representatives from the government, employers, and workers in the movie and TV industry shall also be created, Estrada said.

“Isang malaking karangalan ang mabigyan ng pambihirang pagkakataon na tumayo at itaguyod ang pagpasa ng Senate Bill No. 2505 dahil hindi lamang ito katuparan ng sinimulan ng aking ama, katuparan din ito ng mithiin ng mga taga-industriya ng pelikula at telebisyon — ang suklian ang kanilang dedikasyon, propesyonalismo at talento ng mga benepisyong dapat sana ay noon pa nila tinatamasa,” the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Labor said.

“Nakalulungkot isipin na ang pagpanaw ng beteranong aktor na si Eddie Garcia ang nagbunsod sa panukalang batas na ito. Sa isang banda, nakakapanatag ng loob na hindi na tayo nagpatumpik-tumpik pa at hahayaan na may magbuwis pa ng buhay nang dahil sa kakulangan ng mga safety precautions sa mga shooting locations,” he added.