A party-list legislator on Saturday vowed to push for the enactment of the proposed “Eddie Garcia Act” as soon as the 18th Congress opens on July 22.
Rep. Michael Romero of 1-Pacman said his House Bill 181 or the proposed “Eddie Garcia Act” shall put in place occupational safety and health standards for the film, television and theater industry in the country.
“The film, television and theater industry involve a unique business, and as such, presents several unique health and safety hazards that require special attention,” said Romero.
“Under this House bill, the film, television and theater industry are required to provide a safe workplace for all its workers and employes. Workplace safety and health protocols shall be primordial to eliminate personal injuries, illness or even death from occuring inside the workplace,” he explained.
Romero filed his bill in honor of late veteran actor Eddie Garcia who suffered serious internal injuries after tripping on lose cables at the production set of a regular television series being taped by GMA Network on June 8, 2019. He was 90.
Romero said the multi-awarded actor was known for his professionalism and never reported late on the set even during his prime as among the most popular actors in the country.
HB 181 proposes to limit working hours on the movie set between eight to 12 hours, which already covers waiting hours in between takes, among other safety and ssecurity provisions.
Setting limits for filming and taping of movies, Garcia said, will safeguard the health of all personnel and actors on the movie set.
HB 181 also provides for mandatory personnel and production insurance coverage and the creation of a standard operating procedure for safety and medical emergencies on the set.
It also provides for emergency operational standards and protocol in the film, television and theater industry for scenes that involve the use of explosive, pyrotechnics, smoke and fog, gasoline operated eqiupment, scaffoldings, and others that may endanger the physical safety of all persons involved.
Under the bill, the producer or management is tasked to identify safety and health hazards in the workplace.
The Eddie Garcia Act makes it mandatory for the producer or the corporation involved to pay the full hospitalization bill of personnel who suffer injuries as a result of accidents on the set.
The cost of lost of livelihood will also be paid for by the employer or producer.
The bill provides that non-compliance to provisions of the bill may cost the management a fine of not less than P100,000 for each day the violation is committed.
For subsequent offenses, imposable penalty is P1 million and revocation of the franchise to operate.
