Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5456

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by BAYAN MUNA Representative CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE.

AN ACT
RECOGNIZING THE OBSERVANCE OF JULY 25 OF EVERY YEAR
AS THE NATIONAL CAMPUS PRESS FREEDOM DAY, AND FOR OTHER:
PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The campus press has long been known for its historic role and contribution to press freedom
in the country. The 25" of July is a momentous day for the campus press. The College
Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), an alliance of tertiary student publications
nationwide - the largest and oldest organization of its kind in the Asia Pacific Region, was
founded on July 25, 1931. The date also coincides with the birthday of Ernesto Rodriguez Jr.,
founder of the CEGP and former editor in chief of The National (the campus publication of
the National University).

The Guild, a patriotic and democratic organization, is the center for the advancement of
campus press freedom in the Philippines. It aims to uphold and defend the interest and
welfare of student journalists, its student-publishers, and the Filipino people.

Campus journalists who have served with CEGP continue to pursue the organization's
advocacies even after their years in college. Alumni, such as government officials, public
servants, civil society leaders and activists, media practitioners, business and industry leaders,
and personalities grace the CEGP history’s list of student leaders.

As part of the alternative press or the so-called “mosquito press” during the dark days of
martial law, campus media helped expose the real state of the country during the dictatorship.
Today, the campus press continues to defend the interest and welfare of the Filipino people
by tackling both national and sectoral issues — providing a free and adequate venue for the
discussion of student concerns.

It is in this light that this legislation aims to declare the 25" of July of every year as the
“National Campus Press Freedom Day.”

Approved on third reading during the 15th and 16" Congress, immediate approval of this bill
is earnestly sought.


Approved,

Bayan Muna Party-list


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 8496

iced by BAYAN MUNA Representative CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE.

AN ACT
RECOGNIZING THE OBSERVANCE OF JULY 25 OF EVERY YEAR
AS THE NATIONAL CAMPUS PRESS FREEDOM DAY, AND FOR OTHER:
PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION L. Short Title.This act shall be known as the “National Campus Press Freedom
Day Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy.—It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
promote, protect and safeguard the constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of
expression, speech, and of the press. As part of media, the campus press is an important
institution in society that promotes and protects the freedom of the press and the freedom of
expression, As a testament to its remarkable contribution in the continued advancement of
these freedoms, the State shall, as a matter of policy, promote the observance of July 25 of
every year as “National Campus Press Freedom Day” in all educational institutions.

SECTION 3. Observance of the National Campus Press Freedom Day.—The 25" of July
of every is hereby declared as “National Campus Press Freedom Day”, to be observed in
all educational institutions

SECTION 4. Roles of Educational Institutions.—All educational institutions, are mandated
to provide their full support and assistance to events and activities to be conducted by
students in recognition of the National Campus Press Freedom Day.

his Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in
the Philippines.

Approved,