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PHL, Russia ink memorandum of understanding on cybersecurity


The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Russia’s state-owned BiZone Limited Liability Company to boost cybersecurity in the Philippines.

Signed at the DICT headquarters in Quezon City on Monday, the MOU covers various initiatives in which BiZone would share its knowledge on cybersecurity with the Philippine government.

The MOU’s scope includes enhancing the Philippines’ cybersecurity, mutual response to cybersecurity incidents, exchange of information on actual cyber threats, and exchange of information on cybersecurity policies and technologies.

“Right now it’s just an exchange of information, an exchange of capabilities,” DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio told reporters on the sidelines of the signing ceremony.

The memo would be valid for three years, during which details of a possible memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the two parties would be finalized.

“This has a life of about three years, but I’m sure within that time, maybe the next year or so, we will come up with more activities that will strengthen this MOU and lead to an MOA,” Rio noted.

“More or less, this is addressed to our people that here. We have an understanding with one of the best countries that has really ... is a leader in cybersecurity. So actually this is for our own good and we really thank Russia to be helping us on this,” he said.

With the memo signed, more investments could come in from Russian-based companies.

“This will attract more investment to the Philippines because they know that with this understanding, at least they know the Philippines is doing something to limit or in fact eliminate cybersecurity threats,” Rio said. —VDS, GMA News

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