Layon ng Senate Bill No. 1820 na mabigyan ng comprehensive benefits package ang mga mamamahayag katulad ng mga natatanggap ng mga kawani sa pampubliko at pribadong sektor.
“Our media workers have sacrificed a lot in the name of public service. They spend more time with their microphones and cameras, recorders and laptops than their beds, their fur babies and their loved ones. It is time for the government to level up with them and provide them a safe and protected atmosphere conducive to a productive, free and fruitful media work,” sabi ni Sotto.
Dagdag pa nito, “the media has even gone beyond their duty of news gathering. They have become the voice of the marginalized and the scared. They bridge and connect the people and their public leaders. Napakalaki ng papel na nilalaro ng ating mga reporter, ang kanilang mga cameramen at ang lahat ng bumubuo ng media industry sa ating pamayanan. Sapat lamang na pagtuunan sila ng pansin ng gobyerno at tapatan ang serbisyong kanilang ginagawa para sa ating bayan.”
Ilan lang sa mga benepisyon na nais ni Sotto na maibigay sa mga mamamahayag ay ang pagbuo ng basic compensation scheme, guaranteed security of tenure or regularization for all media workers, P500 per day hazard pay para sa mga delikadong coverages, at probisyon para sa karagdagang insurance benefits.
“It is high time that we provide the media workers their well-deserved emoluments and protection under the law,” Sotto said, adding: “The public’s need for quality, informative news can only be satisfied when our media workers feel safe and secure while in selfless pursuit of news and information,” dagdag pa ng senador.