DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Oct. 25 (PIA) -- Presidential Communications Operation Office (PCOO) Sec. Martin Andanar sought the help of media practitioners in Dumaguete City in pushing for the passage of the Media Workers’ Welfare Bill in the Senate.

Andanar told local reporters in a press conference held Oct. 19 that the said bill was already approved in the House of Representatives and just needs “more push” to be filed completely in the Upper House of Congress.

“We are doing everything we can within the influence that we have. We would really need the help of the sector of the media to help us this. Gamay na lang gyud kulang (this needs a little push),” Andanar said.

He said Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri and Senate President Tito Sotto already promised to file the law in Senate.

“If you can help me write the two to deliver their promise na himoon balaod (to make this into a law), if the Dumaguete Press Club can write our two good senators it would really help a lot,” Andanar added.

The House version of the bill was approved earlier this year.

A report from the Philippine News Agency said the bill aims to ensure that media workers shall enjoy wage benefits, allowances, and benefits provided by law to workers, be covered by Pag-Ibig, PhilHealth, and the Social Security System (SSS), and direct employers to provide additional insurance to media workers including death benefit of P200,000, disability benefit of P200,000, and medical insurance benefit of P100,000.

Media workers are also guaranteed security of tenure after six months probationary period.

Andanar stressed that the government, under the current administration, has upheld and continues to promote the welfare of media practitioners, proof of which is the establishment of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoms).

“We fought for you, the media,  by having the President sign Administrative Order Number 1 or the Presidential Task Force on Media Security which, by the way, led to the fast resolution of the Maguindanao Massacre  and removed us from the list of the Reporter without Borders as one of the most dangerous countries for journalists,” he said. 

Andanar’s meeting with the media aimed to promote the Duterte Legacy, a campaign that seeks to inform the public on the landmark achievements of the government under the Duterte Administration.

He said it is important to do this to continuously earn the trust and confidence of the people whom he described as the “trustees” in the public sector. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)