The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) has warned that media concentration in the country is worsening, even as digital platforms continue to expand. In its latest study, PIDS revealed that the decline of local newspapers and the dominance of a few major outlets are reshaping the media landscape faster than expected. 

According to the report, five regions now have no local newspapers, while many others rely on just one or two outlets for community-level reporting. In Metro Manila, the number of newspaper establishments dropped from 76 to 32, with the top four players now accounting for 83 percent of total industry revenue.

Television broadcasting remains highly concentrated nationwide, with some provinces dependent on a single broadcaster for news. Researchers stressed that digital growth has not replaced the need for localized reporting, as access to online content remains uneven outside the capital. 

PIDS Senior Research Fellow Dr. Ramonette Serafica and Research Specialist Queen Cel Oren emphasized that longstanding ownership structures have historically concentrated control among a few players, and the loss of smaller outlets magnifies this imbalance.

They warned that fewer independent voices limit diversity of perspectives and increase the risks of information bottlenecks. The study called for reforms to encourage competition and support struggling regional newsrooms, including fiscal incentives, freedom-of-information measures, and stronger digital literacy efforts.