False information has increased exponentially on various social media platforms especially with the upcoming national election on 9 May 2022. For many Filipinos, social media has become their primary source of news. As the cyber campus of the University of the Philippines (UP), the UP  Open University (UPOU) has united with Tsek.ph to make sure that misinformation and disinformation circulating the online highways are fact-checked. 

Tsek.ph is a collaborative fact-checking project for the 2022 Philippines’ election. It verifies and fact-checks “platforms and campaign promises of candidates, Election-related statements and remarks made by candidates, personalities, government agencies, and other entities; and Election-related posts on social media, blogs and other platforms.”

UP Open University is also an advocate of stopping fake news and all types of misinformation, disinformation and mal-information.  Early in 2021, UPOU featured media literacy in an episode of the Open Talk, UPOU’s public service program broadcasted real-time over the UPOU Networks website and UPOU Networks Facebook page. 

UPOU also has a project with the Human Rights Violations Victims Memorial Commission (HRVVMC) and the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation where an online course on Wikipedia Editing and Fighting Historical Distortion was developed and offered for free. 

UPOU is also lining up a couple of activities to contribute to this initiative.  The UPOU Office of Public Affairs (OPA), in collaboration  with other offices, is organizing a series of webinars with the aim of helping Filipinos be wary of unverified information online and be able to vote for future leaders wisely. 

UPOU is joined by more than 30 other institutions and organizations in this project with Tsek.ph. Tsek.ph is also supported by the University of the Philippines, Google News Initiative, Rakuten Viber, UP Diliman Department of Journalism and UP College of Mass Communication Foundation. 

#UPOpenUniversity

The IFSS 2025 formally concluded with a meaningful closing ceremony.UPOU Assoc. Prof. Finaflor F. Taylan, DProfSt, Chair of the IFSS 2025 Program Committee, delivered a synthesis of the forum, emphasizing the values aligned with the discussion areas of the IFSS2025. She ended with a call to continually act together for justice, for regeneration, for a future where everyone has just not food, but dignity, health, and the opportunity thrive.An exchange of institutional gifts was held among the representatives from UPOU, DOST, TUPV, STI West Negros University, and Negros Power.Certificates of participation were awarded to all participants of IFSS 2025.The Best Paper Award was conferred by Dr. Gerome Salas, member of the IFSS 2025 Paper Committee to the following winners:- Arwen Jover, Joval Martinez, Aran Jay Nonato, Raezel Harvey Pitong, and Angel Hope Robles with their paper entitled “Functional Characterization of Potassium Solubilization Potential of Hot Spring-Derived Thermophilic Bacteria for Sustainable Agricultural Biofertilizer Development." (Best Paper Award)- Thushari Senavirathna and Brian Dunsford with their paper entitled "Bamboo Pots (Bambusa vulgaris) as a Circular and Regenerative Alternative in Tea (Camellia sinensis) Nurseries." (2nd Best Paper Award)- Gregorio Crisostomo, Crizel Ann Biton, Henmark De la Cruz, Ma. Korina Claudia Hinayan, Ronald Ray Labayen, Charisse Pesquera, Jayboy Santillan, and Joel Manuel Villaluz with their paper entitled "Multi-Crop Powder Processing Machine for Enhancing the Value of Root Crops in Negros." (3rd Best Paper Award)The Best Poster Award was presented by Dr. Gerald Salas, Member of the IFSS 2025 Awards Committee, to Gregorio Crisostomo with his paper entitled “Development of a Portable Solar-Powered Mechanized Silk Reeling Device for Sustainable Silk Production of Rural Negros Island Farmers."The Best Sustainable Showcase Award of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Fair was presented by Engr. Glady T. Reyes, Co-Chair of the IFSS 2025 SDG Fair Committee, to Subay Marketing.Engr. Allan Francis Dara-ug, Provincial Director of the DOST Negros Island Region, delivered his closing remarks with a hope that the seeds planted in IFSS 2025 continue to grow, flourish and bear fruit for generations to come.#IFSS2025 #Sustainability ... See MoreSee Less
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