Indeed, the College of Champions!
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines - College of Communication (PUP-COC) did not leave empty-handed, as it took the top and third spot in the Investigative Journalism and Photo Essay categories, respectively, at the recently concluded Philippine Journalism Research Conference (PJRC) last June 7.
With the main program held at the University of the Philippines - College of Mass Communication (UP CMC) Film Studio, a group of BA Journalism 3-1D students namely, Eirene Manatlao, Patricia Kate Azicate, Marge Nicole Baldo, Bella Dela Merced, and Mayen Medroso, clinched the highest prize out of 13 finalists with their investigative story titled “A SILENT THREAT: Chemical risk in retail leaves workers unaware.”
In their output, they revealed the dangerous health effects of high exposure to Bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical component often used by numerous establishments and offices, such as retail stores, for thermal receipts.
According to various analyses conducted by the Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health (WIOEH), 32 out of the 53 analyzed samples from the country had BPA concentrations ranging from 0.92 to 1.86 percent, higher than the European Union’s limit of 0.2 percent. In addition, 13 out of the 53 had 0.61 to 1.12 percent of Bisphenol-S (BPS).
The health institute and other civil society groups have long called for the government and business sectors to protect workers and the general public from the adverse effects of BPA exposure following the published 2022 study.
BPA is classified as an endocrine-disrupting chemical and is linked to multiple side effects like diabetes, obesity, increased blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, neurological problems, infertility, breast and prostate cancers, and other reproductive problems.
“Nawa’y ang investigative piece na ito patungkol sa harmful BPA content ng thermal receipt ay maging daan para mabuksan ang usapin sa napakalalim na diskusyon tungkol sa kinahaharap na banta sa kalusugan ng ating mga manggagawa,” Dela Merced stated on her Facebook post.
On the other hand, Jann Conrad Bonifacio of BA Broadcasting 3-1N finished third among 11 entries for his photo essay, “Tahungan Kong Kinalimutan: The Fisherfolk’s Battle Against Coastal Reclamation,” revolving around the fisherfolk community of Navotas, which showed the story and struggle of some fishermen like Noel Casoy, Tito Suarez, and Ramil Matilla to preserve their mussel farm or tahungan livelihood in Manila Bay.
It is widely known that aside from Manila Bay’s vast biodiversity, the said local community is threatened with being severely affected by several reclamation projects, such as the Rehabilitation of Navotas Fish Port Complex Project and the 650-hectare Navotas Coastal Bay Reclamation Project (NCBRP), which is called the “Southern Gateway to the Manila International Airport.”
Overall, in this year’s PJRC, 16 groups from the college were shortlisted for the competition and competed in their respective categories.
The PJRC is an annual event spearheaded by UP, in partnership with PUP and the University of Santo Tomas (UST), in which students from different colleges and universities across the country participate with their produced outputs regarding existing issues in the Philippines, such as research, special projects, investigative pieces, news documentaries, and photo essays.
Besides the competition, during the program with the present theme “The Future of Philippine Journalism: Emerging Challenges and Opportunities,” artificial intelligence in journalism and its ethics were tackled by UP Department of Journalism professors Rachel Khan and Danny Arao, with a panel discussion led by veteran media personalities Howie Severino, Roby Alampay, and Joyce Panares.
Article: Toni Rose Baldovino
Graphics: Aldreich Pascual
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