Philippine Media Watchdog CMFR to Cease Operations After 37 Years

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) has announced that it will officially close its operations effective September 30, 2026, marking the end of its 37-year journey in media development and press freedom advocacy.

In an official statement released on Friday, September 18, CMFR explained that while local and international support has sustained its work for nearly four decades, a worsening financial landscape has forced the closure. "Philippine and international funding support has sustained the work of CMFR; but multiple factors have affected the funding environment, making it difficult for CMFR to secure the necessary funds for its operations," the organization stated.

Established in 1989, CMFR has served as an essential institutional watchdog, monitoring media ethics and defending journalists through shifting political climates. In its farewell announcement, the organization expressed its deep gratitude to its past and present staff, as well as to the journalists, news agencies, embassies, schools, and civil society organizations in the Philippines and abroad that supported its mission over the years.

Courtesy: Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility