The Makabayan Bloc in the House of Representatives has welcomed the approval at the committee level of a bill that will “ensure and uphold the Filipino people’s right to assemble and freedom of expression.”
House Deputy Minority leader and Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate of Bayan Muna was referring to House Bill 6297 or the New Public Assembly (NPA) Act that was approved by the House Committee of People’s Participation chaired by San Jose del Monte Rep. Rida Robes.
“After exhaustive consultations with congressional members and stakeholders, the house bill was unanimously approved,” said Zarate, the principal author of the bill.
“This is a positive development towards ensuring the Filipino people’s right to assemble and freedom of expression,” he added, noting that the bill repeals Batasang Pambansa 880 or the “Public Assembly Act of 1985” where the definition of “public assembly” does not include “picketing and other concerted action in strike areas by workers and employees resulting from a labor dispute as defined by the labor laws as political assemblies.or rallies during an election campaign.”
