THE UNIVERSITY of the Philippines-Visayas was among the attendees of the 14th General Assembly of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats held at Iloilo Convention Center.

Delegates from UPV’s BA in Communication and Media Studies program, headed by Project Development Assistant for Mass Communication Zoilo Andrada Jr., joined other delegates from the Philippines and neighboring Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Indonesia.

“I’m very thankful to Chancellor [Clement] Camposano for giving me the opportunity to officially represent the university in this very timely event to better understand and help the country resolve the problem of disinformation,” Andrada said.

“I find it a big opportunity for my students to be involved in an international event which tackles the significant topic of disinformation,” he added.

This year’s CALD, which aims to combat disinformation, includes plenary sessions involving representatives from the media, academe and civic groups. The sessions tackle various ways stakeholders are affected by disinformation networks and aims to come up with comprehensive counter-disinformation initiatives.

Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, the president of the Liberal Party, former Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, LP Secretary General Teddy Baguilat, Rappler Columnist and Editorial Consultant John Nery, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, and Vera Files President Ellen Tordesillas were some of the speakers.