The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) on Saturday stressed that the country’s improved ranking in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index does not reflect better conditions for media workers on the ground.
In a statement, NUJP acknowledged that the Philippines rose to 116th place this year, up from 134th in 2024. However, the group pointed out that the improvement is partly due to worsening press freedom conditions globally, rather than meaningful progress within the country.
“This ranking does not translate into better working conditions for journalists,” NUJP said. “It also does not guarantee a broader range of reliable sources of public information.”
NUJP emphasized that many challenges remain for media professionals, particularly in terms of fair wages, job security, and safety.
One of the most significant industry developments cited was the impending change in management at the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI). Effective July 1, 2025, the print operations of the newspaper will be transferred to its sister company, Inquirer Interactive Inc., which already runs Inquirer.net.
“The possible job losses could mean the disappearance of valuable institutional memory and decades of collective journalistic expertise that have shaped both the publication and national discourse,” NUJP warned.
The group also raised alarm over the killing of veteran journalist and publisher Johnny Dayang, who was shot dead in his home in Kalibo, Aklan, on April 29. His death ended a year-long period without a recorded work-related media killing.
“These developments underscore that our struggle for press freedom, media safety, and the economic and labor rights of media workers is far from over,” NUJP concluded.
