The House of Representatives’ Committee on Information and Communications Technology is consolidating multiple bills aimed at strengthening the country’s cyber resilience amid a surge of cybersecurity threats that pose risks to the nation’s critical infrastructure.
Camarines Sur Rep. Migz Villafuerte, panel chairman, said the panel’s technical working group (TWG) is hammering out a substitute bill from 13 separate measures proposing a new cybersecurity act, plus two more bills aimed specifically at critical information infrastructure protection (CIIP).
During a recent ICT committee hearing, he said the House seeks “to come up with a comprehensive national framework to shield local institutions and digital systems from cyberattacks and ensure a more secure digital future for all Filipinos.”
Villafuerte underscored the urgency for Congress to write new legislation on a Philippine cybersecurity and CIIP structure, given the surge of sophisticated cyberattacks vis-à-vis the fast-growing interconnectivity of critical infrastructure across sectors.
“It is clear that robust and adaptive cybersecurity measures are no longer optional; they have become imperative for preserving and enhancing both our national security and economic stability,” said Villafuerte in his speech at the start of the public hearing.
At the same hearing, Villafuerte also encouraged all stakeholders to actively share their expertise to ensure that the proposed Cybersecurity and CIIP bill would not only be effective but also equitable for all, considering that a close working relationship and shared commitment are essential to shape “a safer and more secure digital future for every Filipino.”
