Zubiri files Journalists Insurance Act of 2010 bill

MANILA, Philippines – Journalists, especially those on field assignment, stand to benefit from two bills filed in the 15th Congress.          

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri has filed a bill providing mandatory insurance coverage for journalists and employees of media entities on field assignment.

Senate Bill 160 or the “Journalists Insurance Act of 2010” proposes that on top of the existing insurance benefits from the Social Security System (SSS) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), journalists and media workers in the field should be given death benefits of P200,000.         

Citing figures from the National Union of Journalists, Zubiri noted that 104 journalists and media workers on assignment had been killed since 2001.  

The bill also proposes that disability benefits of up to P200,000 be awarded to all media practitioners who suffer total or partial disability, whether permanent or temporary, from injury sustained while doing their jobs.

It likewise proposes that media practitioners be allowed to reimburse actual medical expenses not exceeding P100,000.

The proposed measure also mandates media entities to pay the premium of the insurance policy. It also gives them the option to choose the insurance company to enroll its employees in. 

The bill proposes that coverage be extended to journalists under temporary, contractual and casual employment terms. The proposed law defines media entities as newspapers, radio, television and news websites accredited by a reputable media organization registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.    

Media organizations recognized by the bill include, but are not limited to, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Office of the Press Secretary (PIA-OPS), National Press Club (NPC), National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP).           – With Jess Diaz