(POLITIKO) Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada on Tuesday (Oct. 1) urged television and movie companies to put in place mechanisms that would address sexual harassment complaints.
Estrada reminded that this is already required under Republic Act (RA) No. 11996, also known as the Eddie Garcia Act.
“Hindi na uubra ang pagbabalewala sa mga reklamong ng pang-aabuso, physical violence man ito, harassment o mga gawain na nagpapababa sa dignidad ng manggagawa dahil nakasaad sa Section 14 ng batas na dapat may mga pinapairal na patakaran, tuntunin at regulasyon alinsunod sa mga probisyon ng RA 7877 o ang Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995, maging ng RA 11313 o ang Safe Spaces Act, at RA 11036 o ang Mental Health Act,” he stated.
Estrada pointed this out now that the law’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR) were signed on Monday (Sept. 30).
“Katuparan ito ng dekada nang minimithi ng mga minamahal ko na kasamahan sa mundo ng telebisyon at pelikula, ang mabigyan ng kaukulang proteksyon ang kanilang kapakanan at mga karapatan.” he said about the law.
RA 11996 was signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on May 28.
The law was named after veteran actor Eddie Garcia who died on June 20, 2019 at the age of 90 after suffering a neck injury when he tripped and fell during the shooting of a television series.