The Philippines is moving forward with a strong commitment to strengthening transparency and citizen engagement by empowering both government communicators and young people with the digital skills necessary to navigate today’s fast-changing information landscape.

Recent initiatives reflect a shared vision of ensuring that communication in the country is not only more accessible and efficient but also grounded in truth, accountability and responsibility.

In Ilagan City, Isabela, the Provincial Government, in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the Philippine Information Agency, organised a training programme for information officers.

Image credits: Philippines Information Agency

The initiative, called Information Officers Strategic Initiatives on Public Communication, focused on building the capacity of communicators to make full use of the Freedom of Information framework while responsibly integrating artificial intelligence into their work. The programme underscored the importance of going beyond routine updates and instead embracing values-based communication rooted in accuracy and credibility.

By understanding the FOI framework more deeply, participants were reminded that public access to timely and accurate information is a cornerstone of democratic governance. Sessions also addressed the responsible use of AI, with experts stressing that while technology can make communication and workflow more efficient, its benefits must always be balanced with ethical considerations, data privacy and accountability.

A separate workshop explored the role of social media in shaping public trust, guiding information officers on how to maintain a credible and responsible digital presence that upholds the principles of openness and transparency.

Backed by the provincial leadership, the programme represents a strong local effort to transform government communicators into champions of factual reporting and guardians of public trust in governance.

At the national level, the Presidential Communications Office has launched an innovative competition designed to engage young Filipinos directly in digital communication. Called “Sa Totoo Lang: A Digital Storytelling Challenge”, the contest is open to senior high school students in both public and private institutions across the country.

Participants are tasked with creating 90-second short-form videos that highlight government initiatives from the past 30 days, emphasising their positive impact on communities while also reinforcing the values of truth, fact-checking and civic responsibility.

By using platforms already popular among youth – a variety of social media platforms and apps – the competition makes participation accessible and relevant to the habits of today’s students. Each month, awards will be given in three categories: most viewed, most meaningful and best at debunking misinformation.

Winners will receive a tablet and a certificate of recognition from the PCO. Submissions must use original or licensed materials and entries with offensive content or artificially manipulated engagement will be disqualified.

The recurring nature of the competition, with submissions accepted in the first half of every month, ensures that it will not be a one-off activity but a sustained opportunity for young people to engage critically with information, communicate creatively and contribute to a culture of responsible digital storytelling.

Taken together, these two initiatives highlight a broader national commitment to modernising public communication and building resilience against misinformation. On one hand, government information officers are being equipped with the tools and frameworks to strengthen transparency and credibility in official communications. On the other hand, young citizens are encouraged to actively participate in shaping the narrative of truth in the digital sphere.

Both efforts underscore the importance of harnessing technology responsibly, whether through the adoption of AI tools in public offices or the creative use of short-form videos by students.

Ultimately, these programmes are not isolated; they form part of a larger push to ensure that digital empowerment, transparency and accountability become defining features of governance and civic engagement in the Philippines.