Why Eddie Garcia Act should be passed right away, says Aiko Melendez

Aiko Melendez —AIKO MELENDEZ INSTAGRAM

The safety and rights of workers in the entertainment industry should be a priority,” said actress Aiko Melendez, who is appealing for the swift passage of the so-called “Eddie Garcia Act” in the Senate.

Seven months after its approval in the House of Representatives, Aiko said the Senate has yet to pass its version of House Bill No. 1270, a proposed legislation aimed at protecting workers and/or independent contractors in the film, television and radio industries.

The Eddie Garcia bill was passed in Congress in February with a total of 240 votes. It was created in honor of actor Eddie Garcia, who died in June 2019 due to an accident while taping for a TV series.

Safe working environment

“As an actress, I’ve personally experienced and witnessed the challenges and dangers of working in our industry. I appeal to our colleagues in the Senate to give serious attention to this bill,” said Aiko, who is also a Quezon City councilor.

She also pointed out that “there are a lot of independent actors and performers, or freelancers with unfixed salaries and benefits. Tito Eddie’s untimely death underscored the need for a safe working environment for workers in our industry.”