Resource Persons: (From Left To Right) Dr. Rachel Khan, PIA-4A Deputy Regional Head Fredmoore Cavan, Ed Melinda De Jesus, Ms. Bea Bautista, Ms. Jennifer Aquino, and Your Tita Baby during the open forum of the CBILLS Thursday Talks.
Pasay City, Philippines – The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), through its Center for Governance (CFG), and the Capability Building on Innovative Leadership for Legislative Staff (CBILLS) program, successfully concluded the Thursday Talks Series. The third and final installment, titled “The Future of Truth: Navigating the Digital Age for Meaningful Participation,” took place on July 18, 2024, at the Senate of the Philippines, focusing on the pivotal role of information literacy in enhancing digital participation.
Dr. Rachel Khan, a professor from the UP College of Mass Communication, commenced the session by analyzing the current media landscape in the Philippines. She highlighted how new media has transformed public information consumption into an interactive process, empowering the public to engage and provide feedback through social media channels. Dr. Khan emphasized the importance for public servants to understand social media dynamics to effectively communicate public policies and programs. She concluded by presenting principles of public information policy essential for maintaining credibility and public trust.
A panel discussion followed, exploring initiatives by the public and private sectors to ensure free and balanced information for citizen participation. Fredmoore Cavan, deputy regional head of the Philippine Information Agency Region IV-A, outlined the agency’s grassroots development communication programs and their whole-of-nation partnership approach. He stressed that access to accurate information empowers the public to make informed decisions, fostering active citizen participation and responsive governance.
Melinda de Jesus, executive director of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), discussed the organization’s commitment to strengthening the news media as an autonomous pillar of democracy. She detailed CMFR’s programs promoting media ethics and responsibility, including media monitoring and special training programs on media and democracy, media literacy, and peace journalism.
Jennifer Aquino, managing director of Probe Productions, shared Probe’s transition from a traditional media outlet to new media, making its extensive archives accessible to the public. She introduced TSEK/EKS, a fact-checking initiative aimed at revisiting history and combating disinformation across various platforms.
Bea Bautista, TikTok’s communications lead for the Philippines and Malaysia, discussed the company’s holistic approach to user protection through content moderation, technology, cultural adaptation, and consultation with regulators, experts, and NGOs. She elaborated on TikTok’s community guidelines and content moderation policies designed to ensure user safety.
Bernadine Mahinay, Senate committee secretary on Public Information and Mass Media, concluded the forum by reaffirming the public’s responsibility to verify the information they consume and practice critical thinking when assessing sources.
Gilbert Lumantao, director of the DAP’s CFG, delivered the closing remarks, emphasizing the importance of innovation and multistakeholder collaboration in enhancing government efficiency, transparency, and accountability. He underscored the need for transformative and inclusive policymaking to support a resilient and sustainable future for Filipinos.
The Thursday Talks Series is one of the components of the CBILLS Program, aimed at broadening the perspectives of scholars from the Philippine Congress on socio-political and economic trends in and outside the country. The live stream of all lectures is available on the CBILLS website at cbills.dap.edu.ph or the DAP YouTube channel at youtube.com/@dap-edu-ph. (Norielyn D. De Guzman)