In honor of World Press Freedom Day, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines – Davao (CEGP-Davao) assembled to assert the rights of student journalists and spur the fast-track passage of laws protecting them, as continued censorship and administrative intervention threaten campus press freedom nationwide.
In 2024, CEGP recorded 206 cases of campus press freedom violations nationwide, a figure that has since increased with recent cases such as the censorship of Primum, University of Mindanao’s (UM) official student publication, in March 2026.
Stand and Unite against Press Attacks & Censorship (SUPAC) Network Convenor Rojan Sydrick Ditucalan recounted the recent targeted attacks on student publications.
“Ang nahitabo sa Primum, dili lang usa ka isolated nga insidente. Hulagway kini sa mga labad nga pagpangatake batok sa mga kritikal na tingog. Tungod lang sa usa ka artikulo, giingnan dayun nga magpaka-’neutral.’”
This reflects the state of journalists globally, as the Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF) 2026 World Press Freedom Index showed that half the world’s countries fall under the “difficult” category for press freedom.
The Philippines ranked 114th, with the Anti-Terror Act of 2020 being used to justify the prohibition of journalists’ coverage on issues of public interest.
CEGP-Davao Chairperson Catherine Discorson highlighted how the Campus Journalism Act (CJA) of 1991 has failed to grant security and fiscal autonomy to student journalists, resulting in shortage and inaccessibility of funds and risks of attacks.
“Wala siyang ngipin… Nakasaad doon ang mga violations [laban sa] mga kampus mamahayag, pero hindi nakasaad doon [ang] kaakibat na penalization sa mga sa mga taong nag-violate ng mga rights ng mga campus journalist.”
She urged the passage of the Campus Press Freedom (CPF) Bill that will ensure student publications’ right to access sufficient funding and pursue independent coverage.
“Ang Campus Press Freedom Bill na ipinapasa natin ngayon sa Kongreso ay mas matalim at nakaangkla talaga sa kung ano ang danas ng mga kampus mamahayag,” Discorson added.
The CPF Bill or House Bill No. 1155 provides stronger protections than the CJA of 1991 by mandating the collection of publication fees, requiring the establishment of student publications in all schools, and introducing stricter penalties for administrative intervention and harassment, with a fine of at most P200,000 and imprisonment for one to five years upon conviction.
Similarly, Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima also recently filed House Bill No. 8718 to repeal the CJA of 1991.
Discorson underscored that administrations withholding the finances of student publications hinders them from publishing issues essential for upholding democracy.
“Sa mga pahayagang pangkampus, hindi lahat ay may independence na maka-access sa aming mga pondo… Sana bigyan kami ng sapat na pondo…Kaya ang panawagan din namin sa lahat ng mga administrasyon, ay sana’y i-acknowledge nila na talagang kailangan ang isang malayang pamamahayag upang magkaroon tayo ng isang malayang lipunan.”
CEGP-Davao united its member publications in a picket rally at Freedom Park, Roxas Avenue, on May 3, 2026.