Cebu Citizens-Press Council

STATEMENT OF THE CEBU CITIZENS-PRESS COUNCIL ON THE DECLARATION BY THE HOUSE AND LOCAL LEGISLATURES OF SEPT. 21 AS CEBU PRESS FREEDOM DAY
Sept. 17, 2015

It’s formal and official. The House of Representatives and the Cebu City Council and the Cebu Provincial Board, in separate resolutions, have declared Sept. 21 as Cebu Press Freedom Day.

Cebu’s working press will celebrate Cebu Press Freedom Week (CPFW) on Sept. 19 to 26, its 31st year and 23rd celebration, with Cebu Daily News as this year’s lead convenor.

Sept. 21, anniversary of martial law, has always been the “focal point” in scheduling the moveable celebration, as CPFW is observed on the week of every September that includes Sept. 21. But it’s only this year that the day is recognized officially as Cebu Press Freedom Day.

The House, in plenary session last Sept. 15, approved H.R. 231 (earlier calendared as H.R. 2354), sponsored by Cebu City Rep. Raul del Mar, author, and Misamis Occidental Rep. Jorge Almonte, committee on public information chairman. The resolution declares Sept. 21 Cebu Press Freedom Day in the province and cities of Cebu.

The Cebu City Council last Sept. 16 approved Council Res. 13-0703-2015, authored by Councilor Hanz Abella, declared Sept. 21 as Cebu Press Freedom Day in Cebu City. The Cebu Provincial Board last Sept. 3 passed Board Res. 2201, sponsored by Board Member Raul Alcoseba, also declaring Sept. 21 as Press Freedom Day in the towns and component cities of the province.

Pachico A. Seares, executive director of Cebu Citizens-Press Council (CCPC) which recommended the legislative action, thanked the House and the two local legislatures, especially the authors and sponsors of the resolution, for the recognition of media’s role in the community.

The press week has served, the resolution said, as “compelling reminder for the Cebu media industry to defend press freedom and at the same time submit to accountability” and it has also “symbolized capacity of Cebu media, despite professional and business competition, to unite for worthy goals.”