College publications, alliances unveil 10-point campus press elex agenda

Various campus publications and media organizations across the country, through the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP), signed the 2025 Campus Press Election Agenda during the media forum on May 7, at the National Press Club, Intramuros, Manila.

“Nagsasama-sama ang mga pahayagang pangkampus upang dinggin ng mga kasalukuyang mambabatas at mga kumakandidato ngayon sa halalan, [kung] ano nga ba ang kalagayan nating mga estudyante at mga kabataang mamamahayag sa ganitong kalidad ng edukasyon sa Pilipinas, at gayundin ang ngayong halalan na talamak ang pang-aatake sa pahayagang pangkampus hindi lamang sa Maynila kundi sa iba’t ibang parte ng Pilipinas,” said Brell Lacerna, CEGP National Spokesperson.

The document outlines a 10-point agenda formulated following nationwide consultations and serves as a response to recent attacks on student journalists covering the 2025 midterm elections, demanding to address the prevailing press freedom violations and safeguard the campus press.

1. Address and end campus press freedom violations.

The CEGP calls to end the “censorship, admin interference, harassment, and attacks” on campus journalists, reporting 206 campus press freedom violations (CPFVs) under the belt of Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s regime.

Zhanieah Ramiro, a journalism student at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), recounted incidents of CPFVs within the university, citing the administration’s order to take down a photo published by TomasinoWeb. She also raised concerns over the lack of funding allocated to student publications at UST.

“Ang isyu nito ay bunsod ng nabubulok na sistema sa loob ng UST, kung saan ang ekonomiya at kalayaang pamamahayag ng mga campus press ay hindi kinikilala at mga karapatan ng mga estudyante ay ‘di nirerespeto,” Ramiro said.

2. Establish and revive student publications.

Gwyneth Anne Antonio, News Editor of Today’s Carolinian, emphasized the crucial role of student publications within academic institutions.

“In an increasing socioeconomic crisis, ang student publications ang nagiging stronghold para sa truth and realities ng masa. It is only through our reporting that we’re able to objectively narrate and propagate the realities of the students and even sa mga workers, farmers, at urban poor,” she said.

However, the campus press continues to face repressive administrative actions, insufficient funding, and a lack of adequate workspace for student journalists.

In January this year, Today’s Carolinian was kicked out of its designated press room without prior notice and was relocated to other rooms. This incident adds to a series of violations against the publication since 2019, including defunding, restrictions on media coverage, and bureaucratic hurdles.

3. Secure publication autonomy and mandatory funding.

CEGP condemned the university administration's interference in campus press affairs, emphasizing the need to uphold the autonomy of student publications in their reportage. The alliance also called for increased budget allocation and transparency in the use of campus publication funds.

At the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), Alyansa ng Kabataang Mamamahayag (AKM) national chairperson Jacob Baluyot reported that 12 out of 14 campus publications across the PUP system operate without funding, while the remaining two face difficulties in securing a budget. He added that these publications lack enough space and equipment for reporting, with only one able to print an issue.

4. Pass the Campus Press Freedom Bill.

The long-pending Campus Press Freedom Bill seeks to address the shortcomings of the Campus Journalism Act (CJA) of 1991, which fails to provide funding security and fiscal autonomy for student journalists—leading to shortages and increased vulnerability to attacks.

MK Gerbas from the Philippine Collegian urged candidates in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections to recognize the vital role of campus journalism by supporting and passing pending bills aimed at reinforcing the Campus Journalism Act (CJA).

5. Pass the Student Rights and Welfare Bill.

The long-pending, 15-year-old Magna Carta of Students, also named The Students’ Rights and Welfare (STRAW) Act, aims to recognize, safeguard, and ensure that education as a right is being enjoyed by Filipino youth, which also coincides with the campus press freedom.

CEGP demands that Congress urgently pass the STRAW Bill and include the studentry in academic policymaking and development as it upholds the rights and freedom of the students, as well as denounces discrimination of students, tuition fee hikes without consultations, and militarization of campuses, among other provisions.

6. Fight disinformation and red-tagging.

CEGP calls on the administration to address all red-tagging, terror-tagging, and disinformation by holding the perpetrators accountable. The alliance added that the Presidential Task Force on Media Safety (PTFoMs) must consider recommendations on countering these issues from practitioners and advocates.

The Guild reported that numerous student publications have been a target of terror tagging threats online, where attacks against election-related coverages have heightened since the campaign started.

7. Fund education and media literacy.

“Strengthening media literacy is not simply a policy option, but a democratic necessity. Without it, a misinformed population becomes easier to manipulate, and dissent is more easily crushed. Instead of prioritizing military and heavy infrastructure spending, redirecting public funds towards education is a concrete step toward dismantling the architecture of ignorance and control,” CEGP remarked in their document.

Fernan Matthew Enimedez, Associate Editor for Internals of TheSpark recalls the recent attack of Camarines Sur Representative Luis Raymond “LRay” Villafuerte against the publication, claiming that the publication “doctored” the result of the student-led poll for the 2025 midterms elections which was denounced by the Guild.

Enimedez said that funding education and developing media literacy is important in today’s age as disinformation, misinformation, and malinformation live on online platforms. He added that many people believed Villafuerte’s accusations, which undermines the credibility and freedom of the publication in its reportage.

8. Resist state censorship and decriminalize libel.

The Guild believed that the state censors journalists by blocking ‘progressive’ websites through the National Telecommunications Commission, masking it as a national security.

Same with the ongoing discussion about the decriminalization of libel, as it suppresses the genuine and critical reporting of campus press, tagging it as a mark of an authoritarian rule.

Mirroring the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) 2025 Media Electoral Agenda, the call remains until news sites Bulatlat and Pinoy Weekly are unblocked and journalists persecuted under libel laws and other fabricated cases are acquitted.

9. Repeal the Anti-Terror Act and abolish NTF-ELCAC.

Both the Anti-Terrorism Act and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) propagate the repression against student publications, activists, and citizens which enables the state’s red-tagging and harassment.

“Sa ilalim ng anti-terror act, ang malayang pamamahayag ay itinuturing nang krimen. Sa Southern Tagalog pa lamang, lagpas 20 indibidwal na ang nakasuhan, inakusahan, at ginipit ng batas na ito,” UPLB Perspective Culture Editor Yasmin Vera Crista said.

Crista added that the student publication has been targeted by the state twice.

10. Free Frenchie Mae Cumpio and end impunity.

“While corrupt officials walk free, journalists like Cumpio are detained for doing their jobs,” CEGP noted.

Frenchie Mae Cumpio along with other four human rights defenders has been detained for almost five years. Her case is an example of continued red-tagging and silencing of community or independent journalists. In fact, her case is included in TIME Magazine’s top ten press freedom cases worldwide that should be addressed immediately.

“We condemn not only the attacks on the press within our borders, but also the global culture of impunity that allows states to murder, detain, and silence journalists with no consequence,” CEGP added.

Over a hundred student publications and campus media organizations across the country are collectively pouring their efforts to echo the call for genuine campus press freedom and urge midterm election candidates to include the agenda in their platforms by signing the document.

Article: John Lloyd Pablico

Graphics: Marc Nathaniel Servo