Bolster cybersecurity measures, gov’t, private sector urged

(REUTERS/Illustration)

MANILA, Philippines — A consumer group on Monday said government agencies and private businesses alike must adopt security measures aimed at enhancing their cybersecurity and safeguard stakeholders from cyber attacks.

 CitizenWatch Philippines co-convenor and former legislator Kit Belmonte made the pronouncement as he welcomed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s approval of the five-year National Cybersecurity Plan which outlines how to bolster the country’s defense against cyberattack.

 “The landscape of cybercrime and nation-state attacks is constantly evolving with creatively deceiving tactics, posing an ever-increasing threat. This calls for nothing less than a vigilant and strategic approach in fortifying our cybersecurity defenses,” Belmonte said.

With the approval of the cybersecurity plan, Belmonte urged government agencies to implement robust security measures to safeguard both the agency and its stakeholders.

He also said the government should collaborate with private technology firms to integrate technologies which reinforces the country’s cybersecurity.

“The government should deepen its collaboration with private tech firms to appropriately integrate these scam-blocking technologies and also incentivize investments in cybersecurity initiatives,” Belmonte said.

Earlier, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said that it had blocked cyberattacks from “within China” on the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and on the mailboxes of the DICT itself, the Philippine Coast Guard and the President’s official website.

Private enterprises must also protect both their businesses and their customers from hackers using their brands for scams.

Citing a report from Globe Telecom, Belmonte said the 1.1 billion blocked scam and spam messages blocked in the first quarter of 2023 “emphasizes the alarming intensification of cyberattacks we are facing.”

Hence, he urged consumers and internet users to practice caution online and to remain vigilant against the various techniques used by fraudulent individuals to hack or scam.