House Transmits Approved Bill Declaring Sept. 21 As ‘Cebu Press Freedom Day’ To The Senate

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to declare Sept. 21 of every year a special working holiday in the cities and province of Cebu as “Cebu Press Freedom Day,” and subsequently transmitted this to the Senate for concurrence.

The proposal embodied in House Bill No. 6359 is authored by Reps. Raul V. Del Mar (1st District, Cebu City) and Marlyn L. Primicias-Agabas (6th District, Pangasinan), Chairperson of the House Committee on Revision of Laws which endorsed the plenary approval of the measure.

Del Mar said the declaration of Sept. 21 of every year as a special working holiday in Cebu to be known as “Cebu Press Freedom Day” will make the annual celebration of Cebu Press Freedom Week more meaningful and memorable.

“The annual commemoration of Cebu Press Freedom Week, which is being held in September, that includes Sept. 21, the anniversary of martial law declaration in the country, recognizes the significant role of community media as a watchdog of the government and catalyst for social change,” said Del Mar.

He said various sectors of media in Cebu — print, radio, television, and online news outlets — have celebrated Press Freedom Week in September for more than three decades.

“The Cebu Press Freedom Week serves as a compelling reminder for the Cebu media community to uphold press freedom and accountability, and symbolizes the media’s capacity to set aside professional and business competitiveness and unite for worthy goals,” said Del Mar, Chairman of the House Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Relations and Diplomacy.

Through the years, Del Mar said the Cebu media has demonstrated its commitment to high standards of journalism and to police its own ranks through such organizations as the Cebu Citizens-Press Council (CCPC), Cebu News Workers Foundation (Cenewof), and Cebu Press Freedom Week Inc.

“The Cebu media proudly represents the strategic role of community news organizations in the country and its members have received awards in national journalism competitions, reaping honors not just for the industry but also for Cebu and Cebuanos,” said Del Mar.

HB 6359 was transmitted to the Senate for concurrence. It is now pending at the Senate Committee on Local Government.

The bill provides the declaration of Sept. 21 as a special working holiday declaration in Cebu, including all its highly urbanized and component cities, and shall be known as “Cebu Press Freedom Day.” (PNA) SCS/PR/EBP