QUEZON CITY (PIA) — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has highlighted the measures being implemented by the government to bolster the country’s readiness and resilience against cyber threats, as it called on the public to join in celebrating Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October.
DICT Secretary Ivan John Enrile Uy said the observance for this year carries the theme “Cyber Tiwala, Cyber Handa, Cyber Tatag,” as he urged the public: “Together, let’s foster trust, readiness, and resilience against cyber threats.”
On Sept. 30, the DICT officially kicked off the celebration.
The agency lined up a series of activities for the celebration, designed to empower every Filipino to enhance their cybersecurity knowledge and stay safe online.
These initiatives align with Proclamation No. 353 issued by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., emphasizing the critical importance of advancing cybersecurity across all sectors of society, it noted.
The proclamation, signed on October 2, 2023, states: “[O]ne of the strategies set forth in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 is to ensure safety and security in cyber and physical spaces and adopt a legal framework to strengthen cybersecurity and policies on minimum information security standards.”
It further declares, “[T]he Philippines, as a State Party, to the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime, or the “Budapest Convention,” has been committed to the development of domestic legislation against cybercrimes and to the promotion of awareness and collaboration among nations in the fight against cyber-related crimes.”
Marcos has tasked the DICT to lead the observance of Cybersecurity Awareness Month and identify the programs, projects, and activities consistent with international best practices for the yearly celebration.
The president directed all national government offices and encouraged local government units, non-government organizations, and the private sector to support the DICT and actively participate in the annual observation.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month aims to reinforce efforts to address strategic policy dimensions of cybersecurity, develop a national cyber defense capability, and create public awareness through intensified campaigns showcasing cybersecurity information, the DICT highlighted.
The DICT earlier this month announced that the Philippines has made a leap in the 2024 United Nations Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI), moving up to 53rd from 61st in 2020.
Released on Sept. 12, 2024, the report showed the Philippine cybersecurity score rose to 93.49 points from 77 points in 2020. It has put the country just 1.51 points away from joining Tier 1, which includes the world’s best in cybersecurity laws, technology, organizations, training, and international cooperation.
The country’s jump from Tier 3 (Evolving) to Tier 2 (Advancing) highlights the country’s improvements in key areas like providing technical skills, collaborating with other countries, organizing cybersecurity efforts, and building capacity to fight cyber threats, according to the DICT.
Secretary Uy said, “This is a huge achievement for the Philippines. It shows that our hard work to protect Filipinos online is bearing fruit, but we are not stopping here. We are on the brink of being a global leader in cybersecurity, and we will continue working to safeguard our digital world.”
He added that much of the progress can be attributed to the government’s focus on strengthening cybersecurity through the National Cybersecurity Plan (NCSP) 2023-2028.
President Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 58 in April 2024, mandating all government agencies to adopt the NCSP 2023-2028, ensuring that the country is better protected against cyberattacks and online threats. (PIA DMD)
