Artists, journalists call for aid as industries struggle a year into lockdown

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) and the Free the Artist Movement called the attention of the government as Filipino artists, journalists, media workers, and creatives continued to struggle since March 2020’s enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

In a joint statement released on Saturday, April 17, both organizations asked the government to help “ease the burden on the creative and media industries” by providing cash aid to workers who have not been employed for the past 3 months or more.

They also requested the government to provide “free, safe, and effective vaccines” for artists and journalists as soon as possible, and to make COVID-19 testing free and accessible.

The urgent call comes more than a year after multiple canceled gigs and live events, which have negatively impacted the present and future of the creative and performing industry. This sector includes theater, dance, film, music, and television.

“For many, watching movies, TV shows, recorded concerts and stage plays, aired or posted online, somehow makes staying at home bearable. Yet, there has never been a plan on how to cushion the impact on thousands of artists and workers suddenly finding themselves without any source of livelihood in the coming months,” they said.

The Eddie Garcia Act, which was passed by the House in November 2020, would have allowed artists to benefit from a remuneration of up to 5% from the uploading of projects; however, the act is still pending in the Senate as of this writing. The proposed law would set occupational safety and health standards to protect the rights of workers in the film, television, and radio entertainment industries.

Strict COVID-19 safety protocols and stringent health regulations have also made productions “too difficult and expensive” for the industry, NUJP and Free the Artist Movement said.

“Just to be able to fulfill their commitment to bring fresh productions, to the public, the entire cast and crew take risks going to work, staying in lock-in shoots for weeks with no real guarantee that they are safe from COVID,” they added.

Journalists are also not spared. Going out into the field to gather and report real-time information to the public is already a safety risk on its own, especially when done regularly in COVID-19 hotspots.

“Still, many of them are not provided the protection they need. We are well aware that our work involves health risks and accidents. It is most unfortunate that the bills which can protect us, such as the Eddie Garcia Act and Freelance Protection Bill, have not been passed, at a time we need these the most,” they added.

The Freelance Workers Protection Act was approved by the House in March 2021. The bill proposed requiring a contract, additional payments, and measures to protect freelance workers.

“The film industry alone contributes P2 billion to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), annually, and employs nearly 300,000. Television Programming and Broadcast Activities employ more than 8 million,” the statement read, as per the Philippine Statistics Agency, 2019.

“Each year, we earn prestigious awards and honors for the country. Now that we are experiencing difficulties, we don’t think it is too much to ask for help,” they added.

NUJP and Free the Artist Movement asked the government to adopt a “scientific approach” in battling the spread of COVID-19, hoping that they may recognize their “weaknesses and failures” to improve its response to the raging pandemic.

“It must engage civil society groups to take part in solving the problem rather than attacking its critics,” they added. – Rappler.com