CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — As the digital landscape grows and securing cyberspace becomes challenging, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)-10 has strengthened cybersecurity in Northern Mindanao by equipping communities with the knowledge, skills, and systems needed to thrive in the digital age.
“In cybersecurity, we focus on safeguarding critical infrastructure. Executive Order No. 58 adopted the National Cybersecurity Plan 2023-2028 as the whole-of-nation blueprint to strengthen cyber defenses,” DICT-10 Regional Director Sittie Rahma Alawi said.
Before Project SONAR (Security Operations and Network Analysis Research), the government had limited visibility into cyber threats. Since its implementation, it has detected and addressed approximately 20,144 threats nationwide from January to August 2024.
Strengthening cybersecurity awareness
Through awareness campaigns, hands-on training, and strategic partnerships, DICT has become a key driver of cyber resilience in the region. It doubled its cybersecurity awareness efforts, increasing campaigns from 43 in 2023 to 91 in 2024, reaching 12,916 participants—up from 3,984 the previous year. Participants from academia, local governments, community groups, and private sectors received training on critical topics like online safety, data protection, and combating cybercrimes, including child exploitation.
In addition to awareness campaigns, the ICT department conducts practical training to build technical expertise for managing cybersecurity challenges.
The Cyber Range training focused on incident response, network defense, and threat mitigation. It has trained 39 participants from various cities, provinces, and agencies through real-world cyber threat simulations.
The HackforGov program highlights college students’ exceptional technical and problem-solving skills, inspiring the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. Participation grew from 13 teams in 2023 to 18 in 2024.
Also, Project ACUITY (Anti-Cybercrime Upskilling Initiative for Community) trained 2,432 individuals across Region 10, equipping local communities with cybersecurity and cybercrime prevention skills.
Since 2022, DICT-10 has implemented 152 awareness campaigns, 26 Philippine National Public Key Infrastructure (PNPKI) orientations to promote secure digital certificates, 13 Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) trainings to boost incident response, and two HackforGov competitions to foster cybersecurity innovation and talent.
To enhance efforts against cybercrimes, DICT-10 partnered with government agencies and NGOs on key programs. Through Project Against Child Exploitation (ACE), recognized by World Vision Inc. and the Department of Justice’s Tri-City Justice Zone, DICT-10 tackled online sexual abuse in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and Ozamiz. It also joined forces with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) to deliver regionwide information sessions on cybercrime prevention.
“DICT-10 has strengthened cybersecurity awareness and technical capacity across sectors, including LGUs, government agencies, schools, and private entities. These efforts equip communities to protect critical infrastructure, safeguard personal information, and respond to cyber threats. Programs like Cyber Range and HackforGov inspire and prepare the next generation of cybersecurity professionals, ensuring the region’s resilience in the digital era,” Alawi added.
DICT-10 remains committed to providing Filipinos with secure, accessible online connections and safeguarding digital information. (JAKA/PIA–10)
