- Source: Freedom park
In the Philippines, a freedom park is a centrally located public space where political gatherings, rallies and demonstrations may be held without the need of prior permission from government authorities. Similar to free speech zones in the United States, the existence of freedom parks are based on the premise that the government may regulate the time, place and manner of assemblies, without prejudice to the nature of expression being expressed in those assemblies.
These spaces, of which every city and municipality is required to have at least one space designated as such, were created as a result of Reyes v. Bagatsing, a 1983 case heard by the Supreme Court of the Philippines where it was decided that there is no legal impediment to holding a rally in a public venue, which in this case was Rizal Park. This led to the enactment of Batas Pambansa Blg. 880, the Public Assembly Act of 1985, which codified the Reyes decision.
Despite the Public Assembly Act of 1985 requiring that all cities and municipalities have freedom parks, until 2006 only one freedom park was legally designated in the entire country: the Fuente Osmeña Rotonda in downtown Cebu City, according to testimony provided by Alfredo Benipayo, then Solicitor General of the Philippines, in Bayan v. Ermita. In its decision of the case, promulgated on April 26, 2006, the Supreme Court stipulated that in the absence of a freedom park in a particular city or municipality, all public spaces in that particular locality shall be open for the use of the public to peacefully assemble, with the only requirement for doing such being prior notice given to the local mayor. Most localities established freedom parks after Bayan v. Ermita was heard by the Supreme Court, following an order wherein all cities and municipalities were to establish freedom parks within thirty days of the decision's promulgation.
Freedom parks may not be closed without provisions for its relocation, under Section 21 of the Local Government Code of 1991.
List
In 2006, the Department of the Interior and Local Government designated the following as freedom parks in Metro Manila:
Caloocan: LRT-1 Westside in Grace Park
Manila:
Plaza Miranda
Plaza Dilao
Plaza Moriones
Liwasang Bonifacio
Although not officially designated as such, Rizal Park (a.k.a. Luneta) is considered as a de facto freedom park and rallies may be held in the venue without permits. The Agrifina Circle, also located in the park itself, falls under the same category.
Makati: Paseo de Roxas corner Makati Avenue
Marikina: Freedom Park (in front of Marikina city hall)
Navotas: Veterans Park
Pasig: Plaza Rizal (in front of Pasig Cathedral)
Quezon City: Quezon Memorial Circle
San Juan: Pinaglabanan Shrine
Valenzuela: Park in front of Valenzuela City Hall (by 2015, this became the Valenzuela People's Park)
In 2020, the Commission on Human Rights reiterated that the University of the Philippines Diliman campus, including Liwasang Diokno outside their headquarters, is a freedom park. The Public Assembly Act of 1985 states that a "campus of a government-owned and operated educational institution" are freedom parks.
See also
Speakers' Corner
References
External links
BP 880, or the Public Assembly Act of 1985- Source: Freedom Park
Freedom Park may refer to:
In the United States
Freedom Park (Arlington, Virginia), a two block long elevated linear park
Freedom Park (Atlanta, Georgia), a large city park
Freedom Park (Charlotte, North Carolina), a large city park
Freedom Park (Omaha, Nebraska), an outdoor park and museum at the Greater Omaha Marina
Miami Freedom Park, a proposed soccer stadium in Miami
North Carolina Freedom Park in Raleigh, North Carolina
In Asia
Freedom Park (Cambodia), a 1.2-hectare plaza in Phnom Penh
Freedom Park, Bangalore, the former the Central Jail
Jayu Park, also known as Freedom Park, a park in Incheon, South Korea
In Africa
Freedom Park (Lagos), a memorial and leisure park area in the middle of downtown Lagos
Freedom Park (South Africa), a war memorial in Pretoria
Freedom Park, North West, an informal housing settlement near the town of Rustenburg
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Freedom park
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