House body approves Nov. 23 as Press Freedom Day

MANILA, Philippines - A House of Representatives committee has approved on final reading a proposed measure, declaring  every 23th of November as Philippine Press Freedom Day to recognize the importance of press freedom in the country.

The House Committee on Public Information recommended the approval of House Bill 4128, which substituted House Bill 635 authored by AKO Bicol Party List Reps. Christopher Co and Rodel Batocabe.

"The measure, declaring November 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, committee chairman, said.

Co said that while the Philippines is considered to have the freest press in Asia, it is also bombarded with numerous cases of journalists who disappeared and got killed.

He said the proposed November 23 Press Freedom Day will coincide with the 2009 massacre of 53 people, including 32 media workers, in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao.

"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," Co said.

For his part, 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 join in any related activity to celebrate Philippine Press Freedom Day.

The measure 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 to raise awareness on the importance of the press.