President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed Republic Act 11996, also known as the “Eddie Garcia Law”, into law. This legislation, officially titled “An Act Protecting the Welfare of Workers in the Movie and Television Industry”, was passed by the Senate on February 19 and adopted by the House of Representatives on March 6. The law, signed on May 24, recognizes the significant contributions of industry workers to nation-building.
The Eddie Garcia Law mandates regular reviews of working conditions in the movie and television industry, ensuring workers receive fair employment opportunities, decent wages, and protection from abuse and hazardous working conditions. The law stipulates specific working hours, including a standard 8-hour workday extendable to 14 hours, with a cap of 60 hours per week. Special provisions are made for workers requiring special effects makeup, and the law includes travel and waiting times as part of working hours for out-of-town projects.
Additionally, the law ensures that workers receive overtime pay, rest periods, and that cancellations within eight hours of a scheduled shoot are compensated. Employers are required to provide basic necessities such as nutritious meals, safe drinking water, and private dressing rooms, as well as cover transportation expenses and offer accommodation for out-of-town projects.
Senator Robin Padilla and Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, both actors, expressed their support for the law. “A very good news came to us today. Eddie Garcia Law is now a law – Republic Act No. 11996. Thank you very much to our sponsor Senator Jinggoy Estrada and to my fellow Senators,” Padilla said. “Long live the Filipino television and film industry. This is for you.”
Estrada highlighted the law’s significance, stating, “Finally, we have a law that ensures better safety and working conditions for industry workers, regulates working hours, mandates welfare benefits, provides insurance coverage, and grants the right to collective bargaining. Additionally, it paves the way for the creation of a Movie and Television Tripartite Council to facilitate dialogue and improvements in the industry.”
The law is named in honor of Eddie Garcia, a celebrated actor who died in 2019 following a neck injury sustained during a show shoot. Estrada noted that Garcia’s legacy is now enshrined in this groundbreaking legislation aimed at protecting the welfare of workers in the entertainment industry.