Solons seek support for media practitioners

 

 Ryan Ponce Pacpaco 

TWO bills filed in the House of Representatives are set to provide much-needed support to the country’s creative industry and media practitioners.

House Bill (HB) No. 8101, or the proposed Philippine Creative Industries Act, primarily authored by Creative Industry and Performing Arts Chair Christopher “Toff” De Venecia (Pangasinan, 4th District), seeks to provide financial and institutional support to targeted creative industries.

For her part, ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Rowena “Niña” Taduran authored HB 8140, which seeks security of tenure and better benefits for all workers in the media industry.

“Magkapatid itong bills na ito,” De Venecia said of the measures during the virtual Ugnayan sa Batasan media forum. He added that hearings for both measures were conducted almost simultaneously.

The proposed Philippine Creative Industries Development Act, which has been approved by the House on second reading, provides for the creation of the Philippine Creative Industry Development Council and formulation of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Plan.

“Ito ay isang panukalang kumikilala sa creative industries bilang lehitimong sector, na naglalayong magbigay ng proteksyon at suporta na galing sa estado para talagang matulungan at ma-accelerate ang kanilang development,” De Venecia said.

Creative industries identified in the measure include traditional cultural expressions, music and the performing arts, architecture and interior services, animation and digitized creative content, audio-visual, broadcast and interactive media, cultural sites, and visual arts. When enacted, the measure will help freelancers formalize themselves into the economy.

De Venecia said he believes that with the appropriate government support, the country’s creative industry can propel the Philippines towards becoming a creative powerhouse in the ASEAN region.

“Even without the bill, we are already number one in terms of creative services, and number five in the export of creative goods within the ASEAN region. Now you will have a strategic planning and roadmapping for the growth and development and acceleration of these creative industries para ma-hit ‘yong targets,” De Venecia said.

Meanwhile, Taduran’s HB 8140 seeks to professionalize the private mainstream media sector by providing workers just compensation and job security.

Taduran said that most private media firms are still implementing the “talent system” and are only giving “allowances” as remuneration for their workers. She added that media workers form part of the country’s frontliners, and are therefore entitled to receive hazard pay and other health and social benefits.

“We want to professionalize ‘yong ating mga kasamahan sa industry, na mabigyan ng minimum wage,” Taduran said, adding that now is an opportune time to consider the welfare of the mainstream media workers.

‘Pinas mahilig magpapila – Taduran

 

By Billy Begas

Nagsisimula nang mainis ang isang lady solon dahil nagpapatuloy ang pagkukumpulan ng mga tao sa mga vaccination at voter registration site.

Ayon kay Assistant House Majority Leader at ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Rowena Niña Taduran, sa panahon ng digital age ay dapat nakagawa na ng sistema ang gobyerno para nabibigyan ng schedule ang publiko at naiiwasan ang pagpila nang matagal.

“Kulang tayo sa organisasyon, sa panahon na puwedeng i-schedule ang lahat digitally o online para ‘di nagtutumpok-tumpok. Ang hilig nating magpapila,” sabi ni Taduran.

Andami umanong indibiduwal ang napipilitang gumising ng maaga para pumila at nag-uubos doon ng oras kahit na hindi sigurado na sila ay mababakunahan o makakapagrehistro.

“Kung may kanya-kanyang schedule ang magpaparehistrong botante at ang magpapabakuna, hindi na kailangang maghintay ng napakatagal sa pila at makakagawa pa ng ibang gawain ang mga mamamayan,” punto pa ni Taduran.

Nanawagan si Taduran sa mga barangay na tumulong sa pagbibigay ng schedule sa kanilang nasasakupan.

“Barangays should coordinate with the authorities concerned with the vaccination and registration of voters for the proper scheduling and to avoid crowding. This is the best that they can do to avoid the spread of the dreaded COVID-19 and to spare our fellowmen from wasting their time lining up,” dagdag pa ng lady solon.

Need to address in vax, voters reg areas cited

 A HOUSE leader on Friday underscored the need to address with dispatch the crowded and disorganized voters’ registration and  vaccination sites to avert more coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) infections.

House Assistant Majority Leader and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Niña Taduran is getting exasperated with the way organizers have been managing the crowding problem in vaccination and voter’s registration areas.

With the age of digitalization, Taduran said the government should have already formulated an efficient way of dealing with crowding amidst the pandemic.

“Kulang tayo sa organisasyon, sa panahon na puwedeng i-schedule ang lahat digitally o online para di nagtutumpok-tumpok. Ang hilig nating magpapila,” Taduran said.

“Kung may kanya-kanyang schedule ang magpapa-rehistrong botante at ang magpapabakuna, hindi na kailangang maghintay ng napakatagal sa pila at makakagawa pa ng ibang gawain ang mga mamamayan. Sa panahong ito na napakahirap gumalaw at pumunta sa lugar na maraming tao, kailangang may proper scheduling,” Taduran stressed.

“Pagdating sa voters’ registration, parang sadyang pinahihirapan ang mga mamayan na gustong makaboto dahil kailangan nilang pumila ng, napakaaga para lang makapagparehistro. At ngayon, ayaw pa ng Comelec (Commission on Elections) na i-extend ang registration sa October?” Taduran asked.

Taduran called on all barangay officials to help out in scheduling the people for their vaccination and registration as voters to avoid crowding.

“Barangays should coordinate with the authorities concerned with the vaccination and registration of voters for the proper scheduling and, to avoid crowding. This is the best that they can do to avoid the spread of the dreaded COVID-19 and to spare our fellowmen from wasting their time lining up,” Taduran ended.

 Ryan Ponce Pacpaco