Entertainers back De Venecia’s bill
LOCAL entertainers and musicians in Pangasinan are comforted by the bill filed by Fourth District Rep. Christopher de Venecia seeking to promote the welfare of freelancers in the entertainment industry, especially at this time when they are idled in their homes by the current COVID-19 pandemic, becomes a law.
According to Pope Operana, bandleader of Les5Band from Dagupan and president of the Dagupan Musicians Organization (DMO), House Bill 3951 filed by De Venecia will be a big boon to them and their future as well as the entire entertainment industry.
Rep. Christopher de Venecia with Dagupan City musicians. Pope Operana is at extreme left.
House Bill 3951 or the Freelancer Protection Act, seeks to provide benefits that include hazard pay and night shift differentials for freelance entertainers.
DMO has 170 members who like many others lost their only means of livelihood due to COVID-19. The group was formed to look into the security of their livelihood during and post-COVID-19 era when mass gathering is and will still prohibited, said Operana.
He said COVID-19 deprived them of nightly gigs and occasions where they sing and entertain crowds during birthdays and wedding parties because mass gathering has been banned.
Operana said his group supports Congressman De Venecia’s proposed legislation for the benefit of freelance entertainers like them.
In that bill, he is also seeking a legal channel, for example the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), that could take charge in providing the protection, welfare and needs of entertainers.
The bill defines a freelancer as a person who is being contracted or hired to work or continue to work for an independent contractor to provide service in exchange for his or remuneration.
In endorsing De Venecia’s bill, Operana said the ranks of entertainers, which include artists, actors, writers, singers, dancers, composers, film directors and others have grown tremendously throughout the Philippines.
It is about time that a law is passed by Congress that will ensure protection and welfare of entertainers who are also considered an essential industry in the country, Operana said. (Leonardo Micua)
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