In a move that signals a shift in how local governments handle the digital age, the city of Malabon is moving to integrate media and information literacy (MIL) directly into its administrative DNA. Mayor Jeannie Sandoval announced on Thursday that the city is formalizing a structured approach to help residents understand increasingly complex information. This effort, which positions the city as a proactive participant in global digital policy, marks a significant departure from traditional municipal services that rarely account for the quality of information their citizens consume.
A Roadmap for Digital Resilience
The city’s strategy, formally titled the “Empowering and Informed Malabon: Malabon Media and Information Literacy Journey and Roadmap,” was launched in September 2026. The framework rests on four specific pillars: institutionalization, access to information, citizens’ engagement and action, and knowledge and information sharing. This isn’t merely a series of workshops; it is an attempt to weave critical evaluation skills into the regular, day-to-day operations of the local government.
Malabon has been operating as a UNESCO MIL pilot city since 2025. By November 3, 2026, the city was ready to present its milestones at the MIL Cities Central Hybrid Event, a gathering co-organized by UNESCO, Al Rayyan, Qatar, and Dubrovnik, Croatia, to coincide with Global Media and Information Literacy Week and World Cities Day.
Institutionalizing Skepticism
The most tangible aspect of this policy is the “Swipe Right, Think Right!” seminar, an initiative designed to educate parents on the nuances of online safety. The program explicitly targets the ability to recognize misinformation and, perhaps more importantly, the identification of misleading AI-generated content. By focusing on the parents and guardians within the community, the local government is attempting to build a protective layer around younger, more vulnerable digital users.
City Administrator Alex Rosete has been a vocal proponent of this shift. As he noted during the presentation, the goal is not just to push out city notifications, but to ensure that citizens have the tools to evaluate the data they encounter. “Media and information literacy is not simply about providing information; it is about ensuring that our citizens can understand, evaluate, and use it responsibly,” Rosete stated.
The Practical Stakes of Information Literacy
So what does this mean for the average resident? The city has moved to integrate these literacy efforts into its existing digital infrastructure, including the 24/7 Alert App, TXT MJS, E-BOSS, Tourism App, and public information billboards. By pairing these civic tools with a campaign titled “Bago Mag-Share, Isip-Isip!” (Think before you share), the government is effectively asking its citizens to become partners in the integrity of the city’s information network. It is a gamble that digital literacy can be taught at the municipal level, rather than leaving it to the whims of social media algorithms or national-level education policy.
Malabon Joins International UNESCO Network for Information Access
Beyond the digital realm, the city is also focusing on physical access to verified information. Through the Malabon Heritage Museum, the city has published “Malabon Through Centuries: Ang Tambobong sa Nakaraang Apat na Raang Taon,” providing a grounded, historical context for its residents. Similar outreach programs have been extended to the city library, specifically targeting women’s empowerment literature and resources for persons deprived of liberty.
Looking ahead, the city has joined the newly launched MIL Cities Chapter of the UNESCO MIL Alliance. This international network aims to foster resource sharing between cities that are dealing with the same global challenges of digital misinformation. For Mayor Sandoval, the commitment is long-term. As she stated during the event, the focus remains on strengthening the four pillars of the roadmap, ensuring that the city’s administrative functions evolve alongside the digital tools its people use every day.
The question remains whether this localized approach can scale, or if it will simply remain a unique case study in a city that decided to take the lead on a global problem. For now, Malabon is betting that the best defense against a chaotic digital future is a population that knows exactly how to read it.
