TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
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25 
AUG-4 P5:13
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SENATE
S. No. 849
Rt.O IV LO BV.
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
INTEGRATING MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY IN BASIC EDUCATION 
CURRICULUM
EXPLANATORY NOTE
A February 2025 national survey1 showed that majority of Filipinos consider the 
problem of fake news both in media (62%) and the internet (59%) as "serious." In 
addition, 65% of the respondents thought that it was difficult to determine if news or 
information that they had watched, heard or read on television, radio or social media 
is fake or wrong.
As we strive to narrow the digital divide and embrace the digital age, it is crucial 
that we also equip Filipinos, especially the younger generation, with the proper tools 
to responsibly consume and produce online content. With greater access to multitude 
of information, one can easily encounter and be swayed by deepfakes, fake news, and 
other manipulated materials. Hence, it is imperative that we fortify our defenses 
against these kinds of malicious resources readily available in the cyberspace.
In Estonia, media literacy themes are incorporated into existing classroom 
lessons aimed to promote a culture of critical analysis. Meanwhile, the government of
1 "SWS confirms February 2025 Survey items for Stratbase Consultancy on fake news." 12 March 2025. 
Accessed through https://www.sws.org.ph/swsmain/artcldisppage/?artcsvscode=ART-20250312192636


Sweden implemented adjustments to their curriculum to strengthen media literacy and 
online safety to enhance the capacities of students to critically evaluate sources of 
information. Finland, Sweden and the Netherlands are among the countries which 
teach digital literacy and critical thinking about misinformation to school children and 
were found to have stronger resilience to fake news.
This proposed legislation intends to combat misinformation and disinformation 
through education, which is considered as the most effective weapon against such. It 
seeks to integrate concepts on media literacy and exercises on fact-checking, source 
validation and content analysis into our basic education system. It aims to 
institutionalize and strengthen the ongoing efforts of the Department of Education 
(DepEd) in teaching these timely and relevant skill sets towards producing a 
generation of critical and creative thinkers.
In view of the foregoing, the enactment of this bill is fervently sought.
NGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA


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TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
:l -aJ't |U»! .
25 AUG-4 P5:13
S. No.
SENATE
849
RIXEIVCO BY:
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
INTEGRATING MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY IN BASIC EDUCATION 
CURRICULUM
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the '‘''Media and Information 
Literacy Act'.
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State recognizes the vital role of the youth 
in nation-building and promotes and protects their physical, moral, spiritual, 
intellectual, and social well-being. The State also recognizes the role of all educational 
institutions in the inculcation of patriotism and nationalism, fostering love of humanity, 
respect for human rights, teaching the rights and duties of citizenship, strengthening 
ethical and spiritual values, developing moral character and personal discipline, 
encouraging critical and creative thinking, broadening scientific and technological 
knowledge, and promoting vocational efficiency.
Towards this end, the State shall formulate and implement educational policies 
that encourage critical and creative thinking, intellectual discipline, and civic 
participation and responsibility among the youth.
Sec. 3. Definition of Term. — As used in this Act, "Media and Information 
Literacy" shall refer to a set of cognitive and practical skills in finding, accessing, 
organizing, evaluating, interpreting, and creating information across mass media and 
online platforms. Evaluation involves the analysis of the context, value, reliability.


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accuracy, and truthfulness of available information, reports, content, data, and
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images.
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Sec. 4. Integration of Media and Information Literacy in Basic Education
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Curriculum. - It is hereby mandated that Media and Information Literacy shall be
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integrated into the basic education curriculum implemented by the Department of
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Education (DepEd).
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Media and Information Literacy shall be incorporated as an essential component
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into the teaching of core subjects and enrichment activities of the students. The DepEd
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shall develop instructional strategies, tools and pedagogies to implement this Act.
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Sec. 5. Coverage of Media and Information Literacy Program. - Media and
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Information Literacy program shall promote active citizenship, respect for others,
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socio-cultural diversity, and honesty; train and develop creative and critical thinking;
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and encourage responsible use of online platforms. The program shall include activities
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and exercises about source verification, content validation and analysis, fact-checking,
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information appreciation and comprehension, among others.
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The program shall also discuss legal and ethical issues in media and information
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such as copyright, plagiarism, cyber bullying, trolling, online etiquette, fair use
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guidelines and understanding of intellectual property.
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Sec. 6. Review and assessment. — The DepEd shall conduct a periodic review
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of the integration of Media and Information Literacy program into the basic education
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curriculum to ensure its proper implementation and assess student learning outcomes
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for the purpose of determining its efficacy. A report shall be submitted to the
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Committees on Basic Education of both houses of Congress within thirty (30) days
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from the termination of the review and assessment.
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Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days from
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the effectivity of this Act, the DepEd, in consultation with relevant stakeholders and
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government agencies such as the Department of Information and Communications
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Technology (DICT), shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
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implementation of this Act.
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Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any provision of this Act is
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declared unconstitutional or invalid, such parts not affected thereby shall remain in
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full force and effect.


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Sec. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
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regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are contrary to or inconsistent
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with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,