Launch of Digital Pilipinas Festival seen to help push for a robust digital future for the Philippines
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) kicked off Cybersecurity Month last October 9 with a media launch that had as its theme, “Sama-Sama para sa Cyberseguridad” at the DICT Building in Diliman, Quezon City. The event aims to inspire and initiate collective cybersecurity efforts among public and private institutions for a more digitally healthy future for the country. It also highlighted the DICT’s commitment to building a roadmap for a much more secure digital future for the country.
Held in partnership with Digital Pilipinas (DP), the largest private sector-led movement for creating an innovation and technology ecosystem that is actively engaged in a global digital economy through its domestic and international trajectories, the launch was also held in support of the government’s objective of strategically positioning the Philippines as a leading cybersecurity hub.
The kick-off event gathered government officials, industry leaders, various experts in their respective fields, investors, and foreign dignitaries to join the conversation on how to collaborate efficiently and develop effective cyberattack protocols and defenses. This year, Digital Pilipinas is teaming up with the DICT and its Cybersecurity Bureau to be able to actively develop and promote a consistent cybersecurity framework.
Cybersecurity Month kick-off. The topmost photo shows DICT Secretary Ivan Uy (left), and DICT Usec. Jeff Dy (right) while delivering their respective speeches during the event. Second-row photo shows Digital Pilipinas Convenor Amor Maclang (left), together with Secretary Uy, Usec. Dy, and MTRCB chairperson Lala Sotto-Antonio during the ribbon-cutting and MOU-signing ceremonies that signified their commitment to work together in building a more secure and digitally-safe Philippines. The DICT and its Cybersecurity Bureau also forged a partnership with Digital Pilipinas to upskill and strengthen the professional cybersecurity industry in the country.
During the kick-off ceremony, DICT Secretary Ivan Uy said that the DICT is pushing for a cyber-secure future for the Philippines. “Our goal now is to unify all the sectors, capacitate and nurture cybersecurity professionals, and assist (government) agencies in protecting their data,” said Uy. Emphasizing the point about working together with key stakeholders in the government and other interested parties who want to offer support, he further said, “We call for unity and collaboration among the public and the private sectors.”
When asked how the DICT is planning to support the drive of upskilling and strengthening the country’s professional cybersecurity industry, Sec. Uy explained, “We will offer scholarships and programs, as well as essential training, and provide assistance in orienting them on how to better protect their ICT assets. We will also enhance cybersecurity intelligence with the establishment of a National Cybersecurity Operations Center.”
According to Uy, global cyber attacks have become more sophisticated in scale and speed. In 2022 alone, the DICT had tried to draw an answer to 50,000 cyber threats. “We’ve handled 5,000 incidents and as of July this year, it is down to just 1,500. Most of the targets have been government institutions, followed closely by the academe. If left unaddressed, these attacks can derail the country’s plan to become an emerging digital economy,” he said.
According to the latest data provided by the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Philippines currently ranks second in the world when it comes to the most number of recorded cyberattacks, with the country losing up to P100 million in each instance.
United on all (cyber) fronts
For the past many years now, the DICT has been keeping a low profile, but it has been working quietly on the sidelines to support other government agencies. Under the guidance of Secretary Ivan Uy, the DICT and its Cybersecurity Bureau have also been championing the latest cybersecurity initiatives in partnership with key organizations from both the public and private sectors, as well as several dedicated cybersecurity champions.
One of the biggest champions of cybersecurity in the Philippines is none other than the DICT’s own Undersecretary of the Cybersecurity Bureau, Usec. Jeffrey Dy. In his opening remarks, he underlined the importance of being open to collaboration and strengthening the cybersecurity workforce to achieve the country’s greater cybersecurity goals.
“These cybersecurity trends transcend borders, that’s why we want to work together sector by sector, country by country. By working together, we can make a difference! Let us remember that cybersecurity is not only a technology issue — it’s also a human issue. It affects all of us. So, together, we must bridge the gap between technical expertise and public understanding. We must make cybersecurity accessible and understandable to everyone so that we can protect our digital lives and create a more secure and reliable cyberspace,” he said.
Usec. Dy’s call is especially timely as recent data shows there is currently an extreme lack of cybersecurity professionals in the country.
According to John Avila, a senior economic growth specialist at the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Office of Economic Development and Governance, the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals has been rising steadily in recent years due to the growing number of cyber threats and the escalating importance of digital security.
“One of the things we discovered is that the government lacked the capacity for certified cybersecurity professionals. There was a time when the government didn’t even have cybersecurity professionals. So, we’re doing that now — basically, we’re [helping] train people across the government, especially in critical sectors,” said Avila.
Working toward a more digitally safe Philippines
During the celebration of Cybersecurity Month, the government’s holistic approach to cybersecurity will highlight various themes through a series of engagements, as well as capacity-building trainings that will be held through the support of different government agencies.
Among pertinent themes within cyberspace, the movement will focus on consumer protection in the banking and finance sector, as well as policy and law enforcement, citizen-facing services and platforms, and international cooperation. Key industry players and cybersecurity champions, including co-convenors of DP, will also take part in the different activities during the month-long celebration.
During the kick-off event, a panel discussion was held among experts and industry leaders composed of John Paz, Enterprise Information Security Officer and Data Privacy Officer of Bank of the Philippine Islands; Roberto Tayag, CEO for APAC of CyberQ Group; Stephanie Tower, Business Development Lead of nChain; Martin Peñaflor, CEO and co-founder of Tangere; and Usec. Jeff Dy of the DICT Cybersecurity Bureau.
Organized by the DICT Cybersecurity Bureau and Digital Pilipinas, Cybersecurity Month also serves as the lead-up to the inaugural TrustTech and Cybersecurity Festival, happening during the upcoming Digital Pilipinas Festival Year 2, which is set to run from November 20 to 24 at SMX Aura Convention Center and in various co-located venues and innovation hubs across the country.
The upcoming Digital Pilipinas Festival represents the largest push for more initiatives, collaborations, and investments in the Philippines in partnership with the DICT and several national line agencies. Now in its second year, this year’s festival is expected to become one of the biggest gatherings of industry players and country delegations, likely raising the bar for collaborative progress.
To seal the partnership with Digital Pilipinas, DICT Sec. Uy and Usec. Dy signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Amor Maclang, Convenor, Digital Pilipinas, Digital ASEAN, and Digital Pilipinas Festival, signifying a joint commitment to build a more secure and digitally safer Philippines.
“We feel so strongly about supporting the DICT under the leadership of Secretary Ivan Uy because the digital transformation of the Philippines today requires us to celebrate how we will move together in a whole-of-nation, whole-of-government, whole-of-business approach,” stated Maclang.
During the same event, the MTRCB also signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the DICT, represented by Sec. Ivan Uy and Usec. Jeff Dy. In her speech, MTRCB Chairperson Dioerella “Lala” Sotto stated that the safety of the nation’s cyberspace affects not just professional and corporate users, but also the end-user population — ordinary people which includes movie-goers and those staying at home watching television.
Sotto then shared the MTRCB’s commitment to the joint effort, saying, “Our partnership (with the DICT) is an invitation to all stakeholders, including parents, educators, creators, and technology providers, to unite and create a safer, more responsible, and more empowering digital future for all Filipinos.”
With top industry players, government officials, as well as key stakeholders working together to boost the country’s defenses against cyberattacks, and helping to develop present and future cybersecurity initiatives, the Philippines can save time, money, and resources that would otherwise go to bad actors.
For those who wish to help build a more secure digital future for the Philippines, you can register for the Digital Pilipinas Festival x Philippine Fintech Festival Year 2 through this link: https://digitalpilipinas.ph.