Rebublic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2168
HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by
BAYAN MUNA Party-List Representatives CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE,
FERDINAND R. GAITE and EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT

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

EXPLANATORY NOTE

long been known for its historic role and contribution to press freedom in
the country. ' * 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
adv even after theit years in college. Alumni, such as government officials, public
servants, civil society leaders and activists, media practitioners, business and industry leaders, and
GP history’s list of student leaders.

gon

As part of the alternative press or the so-called “mosquito press” during the dark days of mactial
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.

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



Approved on thisd reading during the 15", 16" and 17" Congress, immediate approval of this
bill is earnes!

yy sought.

Bayan Muna Party-list

au

Rep-PERDINAND R. GAITE Rep. EUFE} CULLAMAT
Bayan Mana Party-lst Bayan Muna Party-list



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 2168

Introduced by
BAYAN MUNA Party-List Representatives CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE,
FERDINAND R. GAITE and EUFEMIA C. CULLAMAT

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

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

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

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy.—1t 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
promotes and protects the freedom of the press and the freedom of expression. As a

‘ment to its remarkable contribution in the continued advancement of these freedoms, the

a matter of policy, promote the observance of July 25 of every year as “National

ss Freedom Day” in all educational institutions.

SECTION 3. Observance of the National Campus Press Freedom Day.—The 25" of July
of every yeat 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.

SECTION 5. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional,
the other provisions thereof shall not be affected thereby.

SECTION 6. Elfectivity. — "This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in the Oficial Gagete or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the

Philippines

Approved,
Approved,