The University of the Philippines Cebu and Rappler signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) on Thursday, October 15, at the Board Room, formalizing a partnership on civic engagement, information integrity, and journalism education.
Rappler, through its civic engagement arm MovePH, was represented by Training Coordinator Jene-Anne Pangue and Community Lead Pia Ranada. UP Cebu was represented by Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Asst. Prof. Palmy Marinel Tudtud and College of Communication, Art, and Design Dean Asst. Prof. Crina Tañongon.
The signing took place in the middle of #MoveCebu: Sugbo alang sa Sugboanons, MovePH’s three-day civic empowerment roadshow from October 14 to 16. UP Cebu is one of the roadshow’s partners, but the MOA reaches further, opening the door to future events and joint initiatives long after the roadshow ends.
Through the partnership, UP Cebu and Rappler will work together on issues that matter to communities today. These include civic engagement, the fight against disinformation through #FactsFirstPH, human rights and good governance, disaster preparedness, and safe, respectful conversations on community issues. Journalism education is also a key part of the collaboration, with plans for trainings, workshops, internships, and fellowships that can give UP Cebu students hands-on exposure to the field. Both parties will assign point persons to keep their projects moving and will work together to find funding and resources for their programs.
Rappler will amplify UP Cebu’s activities on its platforms, invite the university to join MovePH workshops and events on journalism, digital media, and fact-checking, and, where possible, send its staff as resource persons. UP Cebu, for its part, will promote Rappler’s content and events to its community, encourage students, faculty, and staff to take part in Rappler and MovePH programs, and engage with the Rappler Communities app. Each will also recognize the other as a partner in the activities they carry out together.
With the MoA in place, UP Cebu and Rappler look ahead to working side by side in building a more informed, engaged, and resilient Cebu.