PAGADIAN CITY, Nov. 06 (PIA) – The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) recently called on senior high school students to become responsible online users as it intensified its advocacy in promoting a safe digital environment through continuous cyber security and data privacy awareness education campaigns.
“Being aware of cyber security and data privacy is a form of social responsibility. Teaching students to be responsible, ethical, and safe online is vital as the digital world becomes increasingly integrated into daily life,” said Vermond Apostol, provincial officer of DICT Zamboanga del Sur. Apostol spoke before 150 senior high school students under the Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL) – Information Communications Technology (ICT) strand of the Zamboanga del Sur National High School (ZSNHS) in Pagadian City.
The forum was held as part of a campaign aimed to boost awareness on cybersecurity threats such as phishing, malware attacks, identity theft and other forms of cyber attacks. The campaign also highlighted the significance of data privacy awareness in fostering a well informed and privacy conscious online community that encouraged responsible data handling practices especially for high school students.
Apostol also highlighted the contribution of students to a more safe and secure digital environment by utilizing its knowledge to protect not only themselves but also their peers and the broader online community.
Jay Mhar Parame, a Grade 11 student from ZSNHS expressed his appreciation to DICT’s campaign which he said provided them with essential knowledge in responsible handling of online data.
“The program teaches us the value of protecting and safeguarding our data. It gives us the fundamental ideas and methods that are necessary for defending computer systems and networks against cyber threats,” he said.
Parame also conveyed that they have gained profound understanding in safeguarding sensitive information and the ethical practices in utilizing the internet.
“We learned the value of protecting sensitive information and implementing secure online practices through the DICT’s engaging lecture,” he said.
Taking into consideration the growing popularity and rapid development of several online social media platforms nowadays, the exchange of data poses a wider chance of threats to online users. To address these challenges, DICTs’ campaign has emerged as a vital initiative to educate and empower young individuals to safeguard their data and be digitally responsible netizens in the country. (EDT/APG/RVC/SBM/PIA-Zamboanga del Sur with photos from DICT-9)
