CEBU, Philippines – “Whether making decisions in the community, [or] writing stories that create meaningful impact, all these efforts are more meaningful when the people on the ground are involved and given a platform to speak up,” Luis Calopez, a Cebuano mover said in Rappler’s Padayon Cebu chat room on Friday, October 16.
The young mover is now among more than a hundred Cebuanos who joined the new Padayon Cebu chat room on Muni, a community-building platform found on Rappler’s free app.
In the chat room, attendees of the Move Cebu: Sugbo Alang Sa Sugbuanon forum, Cebu civil society groups, experts, and community leaders have begun conversations on how Cebu can best find solutions to problems its residents face daily — from constant flooding to traffic, to solid waste management.
“It’s really a place where we want facts to thrive,” Rappler’s head of community Pia Ranada said during the launch of the Padayon Cebu chat room at the public forum held on Wednesday, October 14.
Ranada explained that amid the ongoing challenges that newsrooms face and the pitfalls of profit-driven algorithms on social media, there needs to be a platform where Cebuanos could freely interact with experts, civil society groups, and journalists to discuss local issues, collaborate on solutions, and keep the province moving forward. (READ: Maria Ressa: Journalists must build, own technology to protect information integrity)
Padayon Cebu is envisioned to be a “working space” for Cebu citizens who want a place to share their concerns, mobilize for change, and demand for policies and action. Unlike the usual social media platforms, Muni won’t drown out facts and advocacies with micro-targeting and profit-driven feeds.
“For instance, you’re a student who wants to organize a run to make Cebu more walkable, you can share your press release or invite, your sign-up form on the Padayon Cebu chat room,” Ranada said.
Apart from sharing information, the community head emphasized that chat room members could directly ask Rappler’s journalists questions and even offer suggestions on coverage they’re doing in the province.
“It’s a great way for you to stay connected and get verified information about Cebu, and more than that, mobilize your communities to act on problems that you really care about and want to solve,” Ranada said.
Joining the Cebu conversation
Jun Muntuerto, lawyer and convenor of the Cebu Citizens Initiative (CCI), said on the Padayon Cebu chat room on Thursday that the province needs to act now and prepare for harder times due to ongoing international conflicts, trade tensions, and other events affecting the regions.
“Our public life is increasingly drawn toward partisan disputes and preparations for the 2028 elections. Public accountability matters, but Cebu also needs sustained attention to livelihoods, prices, jobs, public services, and emergency readiness,” Muntuerto stressed.
The same sentiments were echoed during Rappler’s huddle with partners and local community leaders on Friday afternoon, October 16. There, the groups identified key issues that affected the province and committed themselves to collaborating and implementing solutions.
“We commit to creative communication campaigns, making space for fisherfolks and also monitoring and evaluation, to constantly document and pursue research studies,” CCI member Kenneth Kabingue said.
“We recommend continuing educational and capacity-building efforts with local communities and working together with government units to tackle the environmental crisis from all facets and entry points where we can,” Vhon Michael Tobes of Zero Hour PH said.
If you’d like to join the conversation on what you can do to help make Cebu more livable, join the Padayon Cebu chat room here. – Rappler.com
