House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima has filed legislation to mandate additional insurance coverage and tax-free hazard pay for media workers, including those on field assignments, digital staff and freelance journalists.

House Bill No. 7292, or the “Journalists’ Welfare and Protection Act,” seeks to address the persistent economic insecurity and physical threats faced by members of the press. De Lima, representing the Mamamayang Liberal Partylist, cited the prevalence of harassment, “red-tagging,” and job losses as primary drivers for the measure.

“In an era when the role of a free, independent mass media has never been more central to democracy, it is very unfortunate that the working conditions of journalists remain insecure, underprotected, and undervalued,” De Lima said.

The bill proposes a specific schedule of insurance benefits for injuries or loss of life in the line of duty. This includes P350,000 for total or partial disability and P300,000 in death benefits for media employees on field assignments.

The measure also addresses the physical and mental toll of the profession, offering up to P200,000 in medical cost reimbursements for physical injuries and an additional P200,000 for psychiatric treatment or counseling for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.

For freelance journalists, the bill directs the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System to create a special insurance program.

This would allow freelancers to secure coverage for personal accidents and the loss or damage of professional equipment before deploying to conflict or disaster zones.

Under the proposal, all media workers deployed to hazardous areas — including conflict zones and disease-stricken regions — would receive tax-free hazard pay. The compensation would be set at P500 per day or 25 percent of their gross monthly basic salary, whichever is higher.