Understanding the Eddie Garcia Bill

Actor’s death leads to discussions on occupational safety in TV, movie production

LEGENDARY actor Eddie Garcia arrived on set on June 8, 2019 for the taping of an upcoming television series, Rosang Agimat. During the shoot, the 90-year-old actor accidentally tripped over a cable, fracturing his neck which eventually left him in a coma. He passed away 12 days after the accident.

Less than a month after the actor’s demise, the Eddie Garcia Bill was filed in the House of Representatives. In November 2020, the proposed bill (House Bill 7762) was approved for third and final reading with 235 votes. It is currently in the process of review for approval in the Senate.

The Eddie Garcia Bill seeks to “protect and promote the welfare of workers or independent contractors in the film, television, and radio entertainment industry.”

The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), through its Safe Filming program, organized a Safety and Health Orientation Webinar, an online discussion on safety and health for film and audio-visual production shoots during the pandemic which covered the bill extensively.

It is no secret that workers on film and TV shoots have to endure long working hours, and often the freelancers working on these projects do so without written contracts and for measly pay.

“For the longest time, workers in the industry have endured these conditions and [they] have even persevered,” said former child actor and Pangasinan 4th District Representative Christopher “Toff” De Venecia during the Zoom webinar on Feb. 17. “I think it is time for the State to listen to the needs of the workers in the industry especially when it comes to the occupational health and safety,” said Mr. De Venecia, who sponsored the Eddie Garcia Bill.

The bill covers “all workers or independent contractors in the film, television, and radio entertainment industry,” and Section 5 of the bill states that “the worker or independent contractor and the employer or principal shall execute an agreement, or employment contract in a language or dialect understood by both parties before the commencement of service.” “Dapat in writing itong kontratang ito duly signed by both parties, at dapat may kopya ang pareho (It should be a written contract duly signed by both parties, and each secures a copy),” Mr. De Venecia said. “The policy we want to espouse is to institutionalize the best practice of having written contracts for every service that will be rendered by the worker,” Mr. De Venecia said.