Sabin Aboitiz, one of PSAC’s lead convenor, presented key recommendations to President Marcos, which he responded to and acknowledged as urgent.
To address critical issues on the need to fortify the nation’s digital landscape against escalating cyber threats, members of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC), chaired by lead convenor Sabin Aboitiz, met, culminating in the presentation of key recommendations to President Marcos. The council is co-chaired by Henry Aguda, PSAC’s Digital Infra Sector lead.
Addressing the pressing need for proactive measures, Aguda said, “The recommendations we presented to President Marcos aim to fortify our defenses against evolving cyber threats, ensuring the resilience and security of our digital landscape.”
Marcos acknowledged the urgency, saying: “It looks like there is a great need for structural requirements in legislation. Let me work on the Cybersecurity Act, Anti-Mule, and the Online Site Blocking Act. We will talk with the leadership of the Legislature and see how we can move it along quickly.”
PSAC Digital Infrastructure advocated strongly for an Executive Order mandating Minimum Information Security Standards for Critical Information Infrastructure in alignment with the National Cybersecurity Plan. This strategic move seeks to enhance the resilience of vital systems against potential cyber intrusions.
Highlighting urgency, the council stressed the certification of Senate Bill No. 1365, the Cybersecurity Act, and Senate Bill No. 2039, the Anti-Mule Act, as Priority Legislation. These bills hold substantial potential to fortify cybersecurity’s legal framework and combat financial cybercrimes.
PSAC Digital Infrastructure endorsed the upcoming Data Unity Summit and urged the president to deliver a keynote address. Emphasizing the administration’s commitment to fostering data unity and security is crucial.
The council fully supported the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to combat fraud and financial cyber threats to establish a Multi-Sectoral Technical Working Group. This initiative will focus on creating a Mobile Device Database and Anti-Financial Crimes Command Center.
President Marcos stated, “I think that is basically what we are learning; we shouldn’t be shy about outsourcing because we don’t need to reinvent the wheel, which is being reinvented every day.”
The council reaffirmed its dedication to collaborating closely with the government and stakeholders to implement these recommendations effectively. The aim is to elevate the country’s cybersecurity posture and ensure a robust defense against evolving cyber threats.
