CEBU CITY -- Supervising Undersecretary for Philippine News Agency Joel Egco said on Thursday that plans are afoot to have August 30 of every year declared as National Press Freedom Day.
Egco made the announcement to members of the Cebu Citizens-Press Council (CCPC) during the 25th anniversary of the Cebu Press Freedom Week here.
“Why August 30? Because the date coincides with the birthday of Marcelo del Pilar, who is the Father of Philippine Press Freedom,” Egco said. “Del Pilar was, first and foremost, a journalist and not just a revolutionary and a lawyer.”
Egco added that there is evidence now that show Del Pilar had actually masterminded the Katipunan.
“La Solidaridad”, the propaganda newspaper that Del Pilar edited, was known as “Katipunan” by its Tagalog readers.
Because of these recent historical findings, several groups, including those from Bulacan Province where the Del Pilars originated, came up with a resolution asking President Rodrigo Duterte to declare August 30 as Press Freedom Day.
According to Egco, among the signatories of the resolution were Bulakeño Senator Joel Villanueva and several government officials of Bulacan.
“I was really surprised that Cebu already has its own Press Freedom Week here. So, I congratulate the Cebu Citizens-Press Council for having your 25th anniversary celebration,” said Egco, who was the keynote speaker in the gathering.
“Even when I was president of the National Press Club in 2014, we asked the Aquino government then to declare August 30 as Press Freedom Day. But, unfortunately, it didn’t happen. Hopefully, under the Duterte administration, we will be able to have that date declared,” Egco said.
The petition has already been forwarded to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines by Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar for further study, Egco added.
“I’m really happy that Cebu has a Press Freedom Week celebration,” Egco concluded. (PNA)
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