Students from various schools displayed their skills in journalism during the three-day Regional Schools Press Conference in Ilocos Sur.
Competitions included news writing, editorial writing, TV, and radio broadcasting.
The keynote speaker for the event was Bam Alegre, a senior news correspondent from GMA News and Public Affairs.
"Obligation natin sa kanila [sa publiko] na kung ano man yung makukuha nila sa atin ay tamang information. Kailangan natin ng maraming nagbabantay ng katotohanan dahil ang katotohanan ay madaling paglaruan, sa totoo lang,” Alegre said.
The Department of Education (DepEd) also expressed the significance of nurturing critical thinking among youth, especially in the digital age where misinformation proliferates, particularly on social media.
The Department of Education (DepEd) also aims for the youth to be discerning, saying critical thinking is important to what they read and see, especially on social media.
“Dapat very critical ang ating mga kabataan, lalong-lalo na at malaking gampanin nila, dahil sa digital age ngayon maraming nagkalat na impormasyon. Alam dapat talaga nila yung tinatawag natin na media information literacy,” Johnson Sunga, Education Program Supervisor from DepEd-1's Curriculum and Learning Management Division, said.
“Dapat i-validate natin yung reliability ng mga information na binibigay,” Johnny Corrales, a school paper adviser from Baybay Elementary School, added.
Delegates at the conference acknowledged the crucial role played by the media, especially campus journalists, in disseminating information.
“Ang isang campus journalist ay dapat mapanuri, at dapat rin na alam niya ang information [ng] mga sources, kung ito ay reliable source,” Jose Reloza III, a delegate from Baybay Elementary School, said.
The School Division Office (SDO) of Ilocos Sur emerged as the overall champion of the RSPC and the elementary level, while SDO San Fernando City topped the secondary level.
The RSPC 2024 in Ilocos Sur winners are as follows:
Overall:
- SDO Ilocos Sur
- SDO San Fernando City
- SDO Ilocos Norte
- SDO Pangasinan II
Elementary Level:
- SDO Ilocos Sur
- SDO Ilocos Norte
- SDO Laoag City
- SDO Pangasinan II
Secondary Level:
- SDO San Fernando City
- SDO Ilocos Sur
- SDO Ilocos Norte
- SDO Dagupan City
- SDO Pangasinan II
- SDO Alaminos City
