House OKs bill declaring Nov. 23 as Press Freedom Day

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a measure seeking to declare Nov. 23 of every year as Philippine Press Freedom Day.

The day coincides with the anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre where 58 people, including 34 media workers, were killed in 2009. The massacre was dubbed by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) as the single deadliest event for journalists in history.

The country is considered the second deadliest for journalists worldwide.

House Bill 4128 substituted House Bill 635 authored by AKO Bicol party-list Reps. Christopher Co and Rodel Batocabe.

“The measure, declaring Nov. 23rd of every year as Philippine Press Freedom Day, shall promote and uphold freedom and heighten awareness on press freedom so that journalists may freely and securely report the truth no matter who gets hurt by it,” Misamis Occidental Rep. Jorge Almonte, chairman of the House committee on public information, said.

Co said the Philippines is considered to have the freest press in Asia, but also has numerous cases of journalists who disappeared or got killed.

“Remembered as the single deadliest event for journalists in recent history was what happened on Nov. 23, 2009, the Maguindanao massacre is and continues to be a symbol of a fight for press freedom and their rights in the practice of their profession,” he said.

“The commemoration of Philippine Press Freedom Day shall serve as a fitting reminder that we will never forget the sacrifices of these journalists who gave up their lives in the practice of their profession,” he added.

Batocabe said the Maguindanao massacre is a “wanton violation of the rights, and the day that such an abuse of power and machinery happened at the expense of innocent truth seekers must be a day to commemorate and honor their sacrifices to prevent another ignominy in the history of the Philippine press.”

Under the measure, all heads of government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled corporations as well as local government units and employers in the private sector, shall encourage and afford sufficient time and opportunities for their employees to engage and participate in any related activity within the premises of their respective offices or establishments to celebrate Philippine Press Freedom Day.

It also requires the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in coordination with the Presidential Communications Operations Office, other government media organizations and private media organizations to lead public and private school communities at all levels in organizing consciousness-raising activities on the importance of the press, their rights and social responsibility and the elimination of all forms of violence against the press.