House committee approves National Press Freedom Day

The House committee on public information has approved House Bill 3702 declaring August 30 of every year as Marcelo H. Del Pilar National Press Freedom Day.

The bill recognizes the vital role of the press in nation building and aims to raise public awareness about press freedom.

Likewise, it seeks to encourage members of the press to report matters of public interest regardless of the entities or persons that may be offended in the process.

The bill aims to increase knowledge and awareness among students in all levels on the importance of press responsibility, freedom of the press, and ways to protect press people from threats, intimidation, and violence.

The holiday also honors Marcelo H. Del Pilar, recognizing him as the father of Philippine journalism.

Del Pilar was a key figure during the struggle against Spanish occupation, and one of the leaders of the Philippine Propaganda Movement. He became the editor-in-chief of La Solidaridad, the newspaper of Filipino propagandists who pushed for the Philippines to become a province of Spain and afford the citizens the same rights with those in the mainland.

Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado (1st District, Bulacan), author of the measure, in a statement released by the House of Representatives information office said that del Pilar is a national hero worthy of emulation for his patriotism, bravery and intelligence as exemplified by his works as a lawyer, as a revolutionary and as a propagandist.

Sy-Alvarado said dedicating August 30, Del Pilar’s date of birth, to national press freedom shows the world that the country recognizes and respects freedom of the press, as enshrined in Section 4, Article III (Bill of Rights) of the Philippine Constitution. This includes the right to speak and write, and the right to be protected from threats, intimidation and violence.

The bill also mandates all heads of government agencies, governmentowned and controlled corporations, local government units and private-sector employers to encourage and afford sufficient time and opportunity for employees to engage and participate in any activity conducted within the premises of their establishments to celebrate the holiday.

The Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, in coordination with the Presidential Communications Operations Office, and other government organizations are mandated to lead public and private school communities in organizing consciousness-raising activities.