Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil urged the public and private sectors on Wednesday to continue working for a more informed, mindful, and digitally responsible society amid the proliferation of fake news.
“Together, we can shape a world where media and information literacy are not just ideals, but lived experiences,” Secretary Garafil said in her closing remarks during the “Media and Information Literacy Campaign: Maging Mapanuri Conference” in Makati City.
Secretary Garafil also acknowledged the significant contributions of both the private and public sectors in the PCO’s Media and Information Literacy (MIL)Campaign summit, which coincides with the observance of the Communications Month, the agency’s anniversary and the UNESCO’s Global Media and Information Literacy Week.
The roster of distinguished resource persons during the event included Ivan Mayrina of GMA7, Atty. Yves Gonzales of Google, Atty. Toff Rada of Tiktok, Katherine Jane Nagpala of UNACOM, Monrawee Ampolpittayanant of X Southeast Asia, Richelle-Sy Kho of PAMIL, Melinda Tormes-Quinones of MIL for ASEAN Network and PCO Undersecretary for Digital Media Services Emerald Ridao.
Representatives from the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) were also present.
The Secretary also thanked the support of PCO’s partners in the private sector such as Google, Meta, Tiktok, and X (formerly Twitter).
“Your collective commitment to media and information literacy is a testament to the importance of this issue in our rapidly evolving digital world … Ang inyong suporta at dedikasyon sa adhikain ng media at impormasyon literacy ay tunay na kahanga-hanga,” Garafil said.
“Today celebrates the remarkable input and positive collaborative efforts between the media, education sector, tech industry, civil society and the Philippine government. These partnerships underscore the importance of uniting for the common good,” she added.
Secretary Garafil also emphasized that the collaboration between the private and public sectors is of paramount importance especially in the age of easily accessible information and of ever-expanding digital space.
The Secretary said a united citizenry can easily combat misinformation, promote digital literacy and create a safer, more informed and connected society.
“Today also marks our commitment in empowering the next generation. As we discussed MIL and responsible internet use, it’s vital to recognize that we are shaping the future for our youth. The knowledge and insights gained here will empower educators, parents, and communities to guide the next generation in becoming responsible digital citizens,” Garafil said.
“Most importantly, we have discussed that this endeavor is a shared responsibility. No single entity can achieve this alone. It requires the collective effort of stakeholders from various sectors, as we have seen throughout this conference,” she added.
Before concluding her speech, Secretary Garafil expressed optimism that the efforts of both the private and public sectors will bear fruit in the campaign for an informed, mindful, and digitally responsible Filipino people.
Garafil said she is hoping to see the positive impact of the joint efforts of all sectors in pushing for MIL. | PND
Photo Courtesy of PCO