Cebu City Council Calls for Enhanced Media Literacy Education Amidst Rising Tide of Fake News
Cebu City, Philippines – The Cebu City Council has issued a call to action, urging national education agencies to bolster media literacy education among Filipinos in response to the escalating proliferation of misinformation online. Two resolutions passed on March 19, 2025, specifically address the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), requesting the organization of seminars and training programs designed to equip students and educators with the skills to identify and combat online disinformation. This initiative stems from mounting concerns over the public’s vulnerability to fake news, a problem highlighted by a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.
The SWS survey, published on March 12, 2025, paints a stark picture of the challenges Filipinos face in navigating the digital information landscape. A staggering 65 percent of respondents admitted to difficulty discerning the authenticity of news and information consumed through various media channels, including television, radio, and social media. This statistic underscores the urgency of the Cebu City Council’s appeal for enhanced media literacy education. Councilor Rey Gealon, the sponsor of the resolutions, emphasized the critical need to empower both students and teachers with the ability to critically assess online content.
Gealon’s resolutions highlight the specific vulnerabilities of different age groups. He underscored the importance of educating college students, who are on the verge of entering the workforce and exercising their full rights as citizens, to critically evaluate the information they encounter online. Equally crucial, he argued, is the need to instill media literacy skills in younger students, particularly heavy users of social media, from an early age. This proactive approach aims to equip the next generation with the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate the complexities of the digital world.
The resolution directed at CHED emphasizes raising awareness and developing critical thinking among college students, enabling them to readily identify and reject disinformation circulating on social media platforms. The parallel resolution addressed to the DepEd Cebu City Division calls for similar initiatives targeting high school students and teachers. This comprehensive approach seeks to cultivate a culture of critical thinking, fact-checking, and reliance on credible media sources within the educational system. By empowering educators with the necessary skills and knowledge, the council aims to create a ripple effect, extending media literacy education to students across all levels.
The Cebu City Council’s proactive stance against misinformation comes amidst a backdrop of ongoing struggles against fake news nationwide. The recent arrest of a Cebu-based vlogger for spreading false information about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of disseminating fake news. The vlogger, a 30-year-old from Oslob, Cebu, is accused of doctoring a TV5 news post to include a fabricated quote attributed to the President, falsely claiming he had legalized illegal drugs. This incident underscores the real-world impact of misinformation and the importance of holding individuals accountable for spreading falsehoods.
The arrest of the vlogger, who now faces charges under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act, highlights the legal ramifications of spreading fake news. With potential penalties of up to six years in prison and a fine of up to P200,000, this case serves as a deterrent against the creation and dissemination of false information. The Cebu City Council’s resolutions, coupled with the legal action taken against the vlogger, demonstrate a multi-pronged approach to combatting misinformation, encompassing both education and enforcement. This holistic strategy aims to create a more informed and discerning public, better equipped to navigate the complexities of the digital age and resist the spread of fake news.