President Marcos has signed Executive Order No. 58, adopting the Department of Information and Technology’s National Cyber Security Plan for 2023-2028.
The move underscores the government’s commitment to bolstering the security and resilience of Philippine cyberspace following the consecutive hacking attempts on the government’s various IT infrastructures.
In the two-page directive, President Marcos emphasized the pivotalrole of enhancing cybersecurity to ensure safety and security in both cyber and physical realms.
“The NCSP 2023-2028 is hereby adopted as the whole-of-nation roadmap for the integrated development and strategic direction of the country’s cybersecurity,” stated EO 58 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin on April 4.
The NCSP 2023-2028, as formulated under Section 15 of Republic Act10844 or the DICT Act of 2015, delineates the nation’s policytrajectory and furnishes operational guidelines aimed at cultivating a trusted, secured, and resilient cyberspace for all Filipinos.
Under the provisions of EO 58, all relevant national government agencies, instrumentalities, and local government units are enjoined to provide support and collaborate towards the successful execution of the NCSP 2023-2028.
The DICT is tasked with instituting an effective system for implementing, monitoring, and reviewing the plan.
In tandem with the private sector, the executive order mandates the DICT to extend technical assistance to other government entities pertinent to realizing the NCSP 2023-2028 objectives.
Additionally, the DICT is directed to furnish the President with bi-annual reports on the status and progress of NCSP 2023-2028 implementation through the Office of the Executive Secretary and the National Cybersecurity Inter-Agency Committee (NCIAC).
The budget needed for the implementation of EO 58 will be charged against current and available appropriations of concerned agencies, subject to pertinent budgeting, accounting, and auditing laws, rules, and regulations.
The funding requirements necessary for the continued implementation of the order will be included in the General Appropriations Act, subject to the usual budget preparation process.
The strengthening of security and resilience of the country’s cyberspace is one of the key strategies to ensure safety and security in cyber and physical spaces under the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.
A copy of EO 58 was released on Saturday. The order takes effect immediately upon the document’s publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.