Group calls on gov't, industry leaders to improve PH cybersecurity

The Philippine Institute of Cyber Security Professionals (PICSPro) urged government and industry leaders to improve what they said are "long overdue" reforms in the Philippines’ cybersecurity framework

The group warned that recent intrusions into government systems have shown how vulnerable the country’s cybersecurity is.
 
For PICSPro Chairman Angel Redoble, the Philippines must move away “from reactive,
fragmented, and ceremonial approaches to cybersecurity.”

“What we are seeing today is the result of years of underinvestment, lack of coordination, and misplaced priorities,” Redoble said in a statement released on Wednesday.

“Cybersecurity is national security, economic security, and public safety. We cannot treat it as a PR exercise,” Rodoble added.

Redoble said this vision highlights PICSPro’s multi-pillar framework, which advocates for globally aligned legislation, standardized security protocols, coordinated national incident-response systems, and continuous human-capacity development.

He pointed out that without these foundations, the Philippines will remain highly vulnerable to domestic and international cyber threats.

Redoble, meanwhile, also mentioned that there were serious lapses in the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for its cybersecurity projects.

He said that despite the enhanced monitoring and defense, the past months have shown that government systems remain “alarmingly exposed.”

Meanwhile, Redoble emphasized that PICSPro’s vision requires a whole-of-nation approach, which is anchored on robust policy, consistent standards, reliable infrastructure, and a highly trained cybersecurity workforce.

“Our goal is to help the Philippines build a truly resilient cybersecurity ecosystem—one that protects our institutions, our economy, and our people,” Redoble said. —VAL, GMA Integrated News