SENATOR Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. filed a measure upholding and promoting Campus Journalism and Campus Press Freedom.

Senate Bill 1464 or the proposed Campus Press Freedom Act of 2022 seeks to repeal Republic Act 7079 or the act providing for the development and promotion of campus journalism, penalizing violations against campus press freedom.

The senator explained long before the enactment of Republic Act 7079, the Department of Education has already been conducting National Schools Press Conference which is one of the highest academic competitions in the country which aims to test the communication skills of Filipino campus journalists.

“With its focus on oral and written communication skills, coupled by the principles of truth, fairness and patriotism, campus journalism is an integral key in nation-building. The campus press is the concrete manifestation of the students’ democratic rights and a tangible expression of press freedom in the campus,” Revilla said in his explanatory note.

Revilla said the measure aims to bring fore a new Campus Journalism Act that promotes campus journalism and upholds campus press freedom.

The bill seeks to protect student journalists and promote their welfare while pushing forward the interests of their fellow students and other various issues that concern them.

“It is time for us to also build a nation of journalists to fully maximize the ability and ubiquity of our future leaders,” Revilla stressed.