- Joseph Marco supports bill protecting actors on set during taping and shooting.
- Lito Lapid and Mikee Romero filing bills for actors’ protection.
Kapamilya actor Joseph Marco has thrown his support for the enactment of “Eddie Garcia Law” which aims to support and protect workers in the entertainment industry.
In an interview with entertainment website PUSH, Marco shared his support for the planned actor’s occupational safety and health standard bill. He said it’s about time for the government to protect showbiz workers.
“I think it’s about time, dapat matagal nang ginawa ‘yan. And sana one day yung showbiz industry, maging… suportahan ng government,” said Joseph Marco.
The bill is being pushed by Eddie Garcia’s stepson, 1-Pacman congressman Mikee Romero.
“The ‘Eddie Garcia Bill’ will be a means to safeguard the welfare and well being of all actors working in the television and/or in the movie industries,” said Romero in his Facebook post.
A couple of weeks ago, re-elected Senator Lito Lapid also said he will be filing a bill that will address the concerns of movie and television stunt workers in terms of occupational health and safety standards.
“Pag-aaralan namin ‘yan kung ano pa, kakausapin natin, magkakaroon ng suggestion mga stuntman, mga direktor. Kamukha ko, ako fight director din ako, stuntman din ako,’ yan kailangan meron talagang safety, kaya lang aksidente lang talaga ‘yong nangyari sa kanya,” said Lapid.
The renewed attention for showbiz occupational safety was brought about by the incident involving the late Pinoy showbiz icon Eddie Garcia.
The 90-year old screen veteran figured in an accident on the set of GMA Network drama series Rosang Agimat. Garcia tripped over a wire causing him to fall face first which led to him being comatose for more than a week and his eventual death last June 20, 2019.
Aside from Marco, other showbiz personalities also called for the implementation of better occupational health and safety guidelines during taping or shooting.
The Star for All Season and Lipa Representative Vilma Santos-Recto also echoed the calls and support for the bill that will push protection of actors.
“This is not the perfect time for fingerpointing. Siguro eye-opener lang ito para malaman nila. Kasi I’ve been in show business mahigit nang 50 years, hindi naman all the time noong araw pa na merong ambulansya sa shooting or merong doktor. But since it happened, siguro magiging eye-opener na ‘to na karapat-dapat lamang, lalo na kung action films, na in every shooting or taping ay required na meron tayong medics talaga,” Vilma said.
Kapamilya actress Judy Ann Santos in an Instagram post also called on a measure to prevent similar events in the future.
“Sana sa nangyaring ‘to, maging bukas ang isip ng mga networks sa tamang pag-aalaga, pagbigay ng sapat na kaalaman sa lahat ng taga production pagdating sa mga ganitong sitwasyon. Maaaring naiwasan sana,” Juday wrote.
The Directors Guild of the Philippines also asked for safety protocols on every production sets.
“The DGPI believes that his tragic passing is a sad and urgent reminder to the film and television industries that safety protocols at work and on the set are of paramount importance,” said the Filipino film directors in a statement.
Meanwhile, Joseph Marco also shared that he favors naming Garcia as a National Artist. He shared his working experience with him in Kapamilya teleserye Honesto which according to him was inspiring and very impressive.
“He deserves it. Na-witness ko yung pagiging professional niya sa work, like kahit na galing siya sa segue. [Sabi ko,] ‘Grabe ilang taon na ‘to, [pero] hindi nale-late, kahit galing sa kabilang set. Bilib talaga ako sa taong ‘to,” Marco shared.
