Culture & Entertainment · Philippines Bureau
Press Freedom Watchdog CMFR to Shut Down Operations by End of September
The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, a prominent Philippine journalism advocacy group, announced Friday it will cease operations effective September 30 due to challenges in securing adequate funding.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), a watchdog organization dedicated to protecting press freedom and monitoring journalism standards in the Philippines, disclosed plans to wind down its operations by the end of this month.
In a statement posted to social media Friday, the organization cited funding constraints as the primary factor behind the decision. "Philippine and international funding support has sustained the work of CMFR," the center said, noting that multiple factors have contributed to the closure.
The CMFR has served as a key monitor of media practices and press freedom issues in the country for decades. The organization's closure comes amid broader concerns about the operating environment for civil society groups and advocacy organizations across the Philippines.
The September 30 deadline will mark the end of operations for the organization's programs and activities. Further details regarding the transition and any archival of the group's work were not immediately provided in the initial announcement.