On August 22, 2026, non-governmental organization Lingap Angat marked its fourth anniversary at Jose Rizal University (JRU)—partnering with the JRU Community Development Office (CDO) for a second consecutive year to address a critical national issue. Under the theme “Truth in Media: A Shared Responsibility,” the event brought together students, faculty, and leading media figures to confront the growing surge of disinformation.
The anniversary forum featured human rights lawyer and With Due Respect co-host Atty. Dino De Leon, award-winning journalist and Facts First host Christian Esguerra, and Gabe My Two Cents political commentator Gabe Pineda. During an interactive Q&A session with attendees from both public and private schools, the panel emphasized a unified message: verifying sources is crucial, and maintaining digital integrity and responsibilty is a collective duty.
The call to action comes at a pivotal moment. According to the 2026 Reuters Institute Digital News Report, trust in Philippine mainstream media has plummeted to an all-time low of 28%—a drop driven by severe political polarization and rampant online disinformation. By fostering media literacy in schools and local communities, the Lingap Angat and JRU CDO collaboration aims to empower citizens to combat fake news and restore public trust in the truth and at the same time, aligning it to SDG 4’s Quality Education.
Written by:
Carissa M. Enteria
Coordinator, Community Development Office
Trista Apple V. Octaviano
Photographer, Rizalian Student Focus