VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) — The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) organized a media and information literacy (MIL) training session in this city on Thursday, attended by school paper advisers from all 17 regions of the country.
This event is a part of the 2025 National Schools Press Conference (NSPC), which runs from May 19 to 23 in Ilocos Sur.
This initiative strengthens the collaboration between the DepEd and PCO to integrate MIL into the senior high school curriculum.
It highlights the need to equip educators with the tools necessary to promote fact-based journalism, enhance media and information literacy, and empower students to navigate the digital information landscape responsibly.
In his video message, Communications Secretary Jay Ruiz emphasized the importance of strengthening media and information literacy, combating disinformation, and promoting responsible digital citizenship, especially within the education sector.
He said, “The aim of NSPC aligns with that of PCO. We want to develop critical thinking, ethical practices, and journalistic excellence in everything we do. We believe in building a new generation of communicators who are ethical, media-savvy, and empowered to make a difference.”
Ruiz urged student journalists, as he called “the voices of their generation,” to use their voices wisely, truthfully, and courageously.
“Keep writing, keep asking the hard questions, and keep telling stories that inform, inspire, and uplift. Fighting fake news is the fight of your generation. This workshop will equip you with the tools necessary for this battle. The future of journalism and storytelling is in good hands – you hold the key to a more responsible media landscape,” he added.
Rayhanah Salong, campus paper adviser from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), said that she gained valuable insights from the first two sessions titled “Understanding the Functions and Effects of Media in Our Lives” and “Deconstructing Representations in Philippine Media, Culture, and Society.”
Salong said, “I fully support the PCO’s initiative to integrate MIL into the curriculum because students need this education. Misinformation and disinformation are rampant, and students must learn how to discern credible sources so they know what can be shared and what cannot.”
As this initiative aimed to enhance educators’ ability to teach fact-based and ethical journalism, Salong added that students will become more responsible in their use of social media, think twice before posting negative comments, and reduce the spread of fake news, which often leads to misunderstandings.
The PCO stated that this is the pilot run of the learning and teaching modules developed from consultations with DepEd, conducted from March 17 to 23.
As the agreement for using the modules with the DepEd is nearing finalization, the MIL training sessions will soon reach schools across the country, equipping teachers and students with the necessary tools and strategies to combat misinformation and disinformation. (AMB/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)
