The Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 1, Series of 2020 of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) is set to take effect soon, on February 29, 2020, Saturday, to be exact. JMC No. 1 is on the guidelines governing the working conditions and occupational safety and health of workers in the audio-visual production industry.

The Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 was signed by DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III and FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño on February 7, 2020 at the DOLE Building in Intramuros, Manila.

The effectivity date was set just seven days after the landmark signing of JMC No. 1 last February 7, 2020 by DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III and FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño. The JMC states that it will take effect 15 days after its complete publication in two national newspapers of general circulation, and its filing of three copies with the Office of the National Administrative Registrar (ONAR) at the University of the Philippines (UP) Law Center in Quezon City.

First page of the Philippine Daily Inquirer spread (February 14, 2020) on the DOLE-FDCP Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 

Second page of the Philippine Daily Inquirer spread (February 14, 2020) on the DOLE-FDCP Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1

On February 14, 2020, Friday, JMC No. 1 was published in full in two of the country's major broadsheets, The Philippine Star and Philippine Daily Inquirer. Also on the same day, three copies of the DOLE-FDCP JMC were filed with the ONAR at UP Law Center by FDCP Policy Team members Apple Barbero and Rachelle Villaluna.

First page of The Philippine Star spread (February 14, 2020) on the DOLE-FDCP Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1

Second page of The Philippine Star spread (February 14, 2020) on the DOLE-FDCP Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1

Three copies of the DOLE-FDCP Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 were filed with the Office of the National Administrative Registrar at UP Law Center on February 14, 2020.

The steps swiftly undertaken to publish and file JMC No. 1 on Valentine's Day show the commitment of DOLE and FDCP to their labor of love, which is the creation of guidelines on the working conditions, safety, and health of audio-visual industry members. By February 29, it is expected that the general guidelines on working conditions and occupational safety and health (OSH) will be adhered to. Among the standards set by JMC No. 1 cover working hours, overtime pay, social welfare benefits, mandatory presence of OSH personnel, the “no contract, no work” policy, and prohibition of sexual harassment, among many other provisions.

The DOLE-FDCP JMC No. 1 is on the FDCP.ph homepage.