Sufficient and nutritious meals, adequate standby areas and just workday hours.
These were among the rights pushed by Senator Robin Padilla for “small” workers in the showbiz industry.
At the hearing of the Senate on the proposed “Eddie Garcia Act” where he is a co-author, Padilla stressed the observation of such rights are important to ensuring a smooth workflow in the industry he came from.
“Mahalaga sa amin mga maliliit kasi mga big star.”
“Mahalaga sa amin mga maliliit kasi mga big star… kaya kami nanggagalaiti dito para doon sa maliliit, kasi ang big star, may pagkain ‘yan,” the legislator told the stakeholders at the hearing.
“Sana po magtulungan tayo. Hindi po tayo nandito para magtalo-talo o ‘di magkasundo. Gusto lang po nating magkaroon ng napakagandang workflow sa ating industry kahit ang industry natin medyo nasa alanganin ngayon,” the lawmaker added.
The senator reminded producers to ensure dietitians are in the workplace so performers and crew have the strength to do their work.
“Nagpuyat ka na tapos pakakainin ka ng isang bakol ng upo.”
“Nagpuyat ka na tapos pakakainin ka ng isang bakol ng upo medyo mahirap naman,” he said.
Padilla added there should be adequate and comfortable standby areas especially for senior and child performers.
“Kadalasan kasi pagdating sa talent, nasa kalsada lang,” he said.
Padilla likewise pushed for tax holidays to allow the industry to recover, “dahil alam kong overtaxed kayo.”
Joji Alonso of the Philippine Motion Picture Producers Association said they are amenable to a work day with a maximum of 14 hours.
Alonso said the industry is struggling because producers of movies made this year earned only up to P12 million in a week, and in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) at that – a far cry from the P72 million they need to break even.
