SENATOR Francis “Chiz” Escudero cautioned against introducing additional modules or subjects on media literacy in high school or college as the matter needs more study and consultations.

“Para sa akin ay magandang suhestyon ito pero huwag naman sila agad-agad na maglagay ng karagdagang subjects sa curriculum. Hindi naman ganun kadali iyon at hindi naman lahat ay kailangan at interesado diyan,” Escudero said about the planned media literacy campaign led by the Presidential Communications Office.

The PCO earlier said that it will launch a campaign on disinformation through a memorandum of understanding to formalize the partnership with government agencies and social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and X.

The Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education are among the partner agencies that the PCO intends to tap to introduce media literacy subjects.

“Huwag tayo padalus-dalos sa pagdagdag o pagbawas o pag-alis sa anumang bagay na nasa curriculum dahil mahabang proseso ang pinagdaanan bago iyan naisama o natanggal. Lalo na sa higher institution, nakabase din iyan sa pangangailangan ng workforce kapag sila ay nag-graduate at base rin iyan sa mga board exams na kailangan kunin para maging ganap na professional,” Escudero said.

Instead of the DepEd and CHEd, the senator suggested that the PCO include the Department of Information and Communications Technology as a key partner.

“Kung pwede ko imungkahi, ang dapat nilang isama ay ang DICT dahil lumalaganap ang misinformation and disinformation sa iba’t ibang social media platforms at hindi naman doon sa traditional media na kinagisnan natin na print, radio at TV,” Escudero pointed out.

“Madalas ang mga fake news ay nasa iba’t ibang social media platforms. Dahil na nga sa internet, bawa’t isa sa atin ay pwedeng pagmulan na ng information, maski na sinuman siya o maski anuman ang edad niya,” he added.