Philippine journals push for stronger global visibility amid indexing challenges
Philippine journal editors underwent workshops and knowledge-sharing sessions on journal indexing, ethical editorial management, and global visibility during the 2026 Philippine Journal Editors Forum held at the Heritage Hotel, Pasay City on May 8, 2026.
The forum was conducted in response to persistent challenges affecting Philippine scholarly journals, including limited institutional and funding support, shortage of peer reviewers, and gaps in editorial management systems that continue to impede many local journals from achieving international indexing and wider global reach.
Experts emphasized that addressing these concerns is crucial to strengthening the visibility and credibility of Philippine journals and expanding the country’s contribution to global scientific discussions, policymaking, innovation, and sustainable development initiatives.
A total of 295 journal editors from academic and private institutions nationwide participated in the hybrid forum organized by the Department of Science and Technology-National Research Council of the Philippines (DOST-NRCP) in partnership with the Andrew Gonzalez Philippine Citation Index (AGPCI). The activity aimed to promote collaboration, share best practices, and improve readiness for national and international journal indexing systems.
AGPCI, a national journal indexing and citation system, supports Philippine scholarly publications through quality assurance mechanisms intended to improve editorial standards, accessibility, and research visibility.
During the forum, journal experts highlighted the need for stronger editorial governance, sustainable management systems, mentorship, and digital publishing platforms to help local journals meet international standards and remain competitive in the global research landscape.
Dr. Christian P. Gopez, AGPCI Operations and Quality Assurance Manager, discussed the current status of Philippine journals and emphasized the importance of sustainability and long-term development in improving indexing readiness.
Mr. Alexander van Servellen, Elsevier Strategic Engagement Manager, shared international journal editorial practices and governance standards that may help Philippine journals strengthen publication quality and expand global reach.
Dr. Maria Paz E. Morales, President of the Journal Editors Association of the Philippines (JEAP), discussed the importance of mentorship and collaboration among editors, as well as the utilization of digital publishing systems such as the Open Journal System (OJS), in improving journal operations and visibility.
Dr. Jose Isagani B. Janairo, Editor-in-Chief of the NRCP Research Journal, also talked about the importance of ethical editorial governance amid emerging challenges brought about by artificial intelligence and evolving digital technologies in academic publishing.
Following the discussions, participants joined a workshop that identified operational and institutional challenges commonly faced by Philippine journals.
Among the concerns raised were weak institutional support, limited funding support for hosting an online journal management system, inadequate editorial systems, shortage of qualified peer reviewers, low submission rates, and insufficient technical expertise in journal management.
Participants noted that these challenges continue to affect the ability of many Philippine journals to qualify for both national and international indexing systems such as Scopus, limiting the global reach and accessibility of locally generated research.
Experts stressed that improving journal visibility is essential to ensure that Philippine research contributes to the advancement of knowledge, technology, innovation, and evidence-based policymaking, both locally and internationally.
Participants likewise proposed stronger collaboration among editors, academic institutions, and government agencies, along with expanded mentorship initiatives, technical training, and support mechanisms to strengthen journal development efforts nationwide.
Dr. Michael Angelo B. Promentilla, NRCP President, said the forum is part of the continuing efforts of the Council and its partners to strengthen engagement among journal editors and support the advancement of Philippine scholarly publications.
“We envision a stronger, more connected network of editors who can collaborate, share expertise, and collectively raise the standards and visibility of Philippine scholarly publications,” he said.
Ms. Beverly Mae N. Dela Cruz, NRCP Chief Science Research Specialist and Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Executive Director, also emphasized the importance of identifying shared challenges among journals to help institutions and agencies develop responsive and sustainable support systems for the country’s scholarly publishing sector.
“These challenges call for stronger collaboration among editors, institutions, and national agencies, as these are shared responsibilities that shape the future of our scholarly ecosystem,” she said.
Anchored on its mandate to promote and support research development, NRCP aims to further assist local journals in strengthening the country’s knowledge capital as a foundation for scientific and social innovation, technology advancement, and evidence-based policymaking. (Rose D. Dagupen // S&T Media Services)
