Solons File Bill Requiring Journalists to Pass Board Exam

A bill requiring anyone who aspires to work in the media to pass an exam before they can be accredited as members of the press has been filed by two congressmen on Monday.

Brothers Representative Rufus and Maximo Rodriguez proposed the House Bill 2550 otherwise known as “Magna Carta for Journalist”, where it classified journalist as accredited and non-accredited.

The bill provides for the creation of the Professional Journalist Examination and the Philippine Council for Journalists, which will handle the examination for radio, television, print and photography.

However, despite the presence of an exam, the bill’s authors said “non-accredited” media, or those who won’t pass the exam, can still work for news organizations.

“They will still be allowed to exercise their duties and rights as journalists and enjoy only those benefits and privileges accorded to them by their employers,” Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said.” Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said.

In the Senate, a similar bill was also filed by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, which has since been met with ire from media rights groups, report said.

Th online news said Estrada’s proposed legislation was described by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)as “unnecessary.” The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas, meanwhile, said the proposal was “unconstitutional.”

In the House version of the bill, the authors said that journalists who have been in practice for 10 years and above will be exempted from the exam, Gma news online reported.

Meanwhile, Laguna Rep. Sol Aragones and former broadcast journalist, also filed House Bill 2568 which seeks to promote freedom of information. The bill aims to ensure that all requests made by media outfits and journalists of government agencies are acted upon promptly, within a period of five business days.

Aragones’ bill also demands a written explanation from the concerned government office to clarify why the request is denied, should it be denied, Gma news online said.

“The assumption is that all records in the custody or possession of a public body should be open to public scrutiny. Any public body that asserts that a record is exempt from disclosure has the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that it is exempt,” Aragones said.

Reports said HB 2568 likewise proposes the creation of a Journalist Welfare Fund that will assist journalists in distress. The financial assistance ranges from P10,000.00 but not more than P200,000.00 for temporary or permanent incapacity, distress, or death of a journalist by reason of his profession.

Both bills will have to pass several committee hearings and rounds of voting before they can be passed, Gma news online reported.

Source: Gma news online