File photo of President Rodrigo Duterte, with former special assistant to the president now Senator Bong Go. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has declared August 30 of every year as National Press Freedom Day, Malacañang announced Wednesday.
This development came after the President signed Republic Act No. 11699.
“Sa mga kaibigan natin sa media, pinirmahan po naman ni Pangulong Duterte ang Republic Act No. 11699 na nagde-deklara sa August 30 ng bawat taon na National Press Freedom Day,” acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said during the Palace press briefing.
(To our friends in the media, President Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11699, declaring August 30 of every year as the National Press Freedom Day.)
“Ito ay bilang pagkilala kay Marcelo H. Del Pilar, ang ama ng Philippine Journalism na ipinanganak nung August 30, 1850,” he continued.
(This is in recognition of Marcelo H. Del Pilar, the father of Philippine Journalism who was born on August 30, 1850.)
Under Republic Act No. 11699, the National Press Freedom Day is a working holiday.
“To ensure the meaningful observance and celebration of National Press Freedom Day, all government agencies and instrumentalities, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, government-owned and controlled corporations, local government units, as well as the private sector shall afford the sufficient time and opportunity for their employees to engage and participate in any related activity to be conducted in the premises of their respective offices or establishments,” the measure read.
Concerned education agencies, government and private media organizations shall lead schools at all levels in “organizing consciousness-raising activities on the importance of the press, their rights and social responsibilities, and the elimination of all forms of violence against the press.”
Based on the 2021 World Press Freedom Index, the Philippines ranked 138th out of 180 countries.
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