Lawmakers from the House of Representatives adopted a bill from the Senate which declared August 30 as “National Press Freedom Day.”
Senate Bill 670 was adopted as an amendment to House Bill 9182. The bill was adopted during a plenary session in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
Earlier, Senate Bill 670 was approved on final reading. The “National Press Freedom Day” bill was approved in honor of Marcelo H. del Pilar, the Filipino hero considered as the father of Philippine journalism.
August 30 will still be a working holiday. August 30, 1850 was the day Del Pilar was born.
Under the “National Press Freedom Day, all government agencies, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, government-owned and controlled corporations, local government units as well as the private sector, will be mandated to allot time for employees to participate in activities to be conducted within their respective offices.
The measure will also direct the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, government and private media organizations, to lead public and private educational institutions in activities to raise awareness on the role and importance of the press.
The information-related activities will also highlight rights of the press practitioners and their social responsibilities.
The said programs will also highlight the need to eliminate all forms of violence against members of the press.
