Insurance, tax-free hazard pay sa freelance journalists inihirit ni Rep. Villar

Naghain ng panukala si House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar na ang layon ay mabigyan ng medical insurance, tax-exempt hazard pay at iba pang benepisyo ang field media personnel.

Layon ng House Bill 6543 na mabigyan ng mga benepisyo ang ‘permanent, temporary, contractual at casual  journalists kasama na ang mga freelancers.

Paliwanag ni Villar, ang freelance journalists ay magkakaroon ng insurance coverage sa ilalim ng special program ng Social Security System (SSS) o Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

“During important assignments, journalists face the most dangerous situations like typhoons, disasters, floods, riots, war and conflicts, to name a few, in order to deliver the news to the public,” paliwanag ni Villar sa kanyang panukala.

Dagdag pa niya; “They accept field assignments bringing only their passion sans insurance or hazard pay although they risk their lives in the name of journalism.”