The Philippines unveils cybersecurity plan

The Philippines has revealed a national cybersecurity plan, the Department of Information and Communications Technology has announced.

The National Cybersecurity Plan 2022 addresses the “urgency” for cybersecurity in four areas: the Philippines’ critical infrastructure, government networks, businesses, and “every Filipino using the internet”.

Critical infrastructure refers to computer systems and networks that are so vital that attacks or disruptions could be debilitating for a country’s national or economic security.

The goals of the plan include: ensuring continuous operation of critical infrastructure and public and military networks; implementing cyber resiliency measures; effective coordination with law enforcement agencies; and a cybersecurity-educated society.

The report also details the Philippines’ cyber threat landscape. In March last year, the Philippines’ Voters’ Database suffered a hack, and 1.3 million passport numbers of Filipinos working overseas were leaked, among other sensitive data.

Furthermore, at least 68 government websites were subjected to attacks last year, the report said.

It was also announced that the government will be establishing a National Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT) to “build up its capability and capacity for quick response and recovery”.

NCERT will aid government agencies in the event that a cyber attack occurs, and create a “well-prepared emergency response protocol” as part of the operating environment of all agencies.