“The fight extends beyond infrastructure and policy”
The first step in solving a serious problem is recognizing that there is one. When it comes to cybersecurity in the Philippines, the issues are undeniable: rampant misinformation, an evolving threat landscape, and inadequate infrastructure to counter cyber threats – big problems that need immediate and sustained action.
The Philippines is taking cybersecurity seriously by forging partnerships with Canada and other like-minded nations to build capacity, enhance international cooperation, and develop robust strategies to protect critical infrastructure.
With mid-term elections approaching, raging local political tensions, and evolving geopolitical dynamics, misinformation is spreading at the speed of light and undermining public perception and trust, making it imperative for all stakeholders to act decisively.
Stratbase Institute, in collaboration with the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines, recently hosted a cybersecurity two-day conference on “Forging Collaborative Cyber Resilience: Protecting Critical Infrastructure and Democratic Institutions.”
The discussions painted a menacing social media environment, once a democratized space for free expression and communication, has become platform for power plays.
Canadian ambassador David Hartman said “Cooperation between governments, militaries, academia, and the private sector is absolutely essential to building resilient systems and protecting our respective societies” from the devastating consequences of cyber-attacks.
Stratbase Institute President Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit didn’t mince words.
“The digital space is now weaponized, particularly in the Philippines, where elections are increasingly influenced by the manipulation of public opinion,” he said. Social media is now a key battleground, where disinformation spreads unchecked in a “Shadow War” to infiltrate the people’s minds .
A Jan. 2025 Pulse Asia survey revealed that 98 percent of Filipinos rely on Facebook for news, while 89 percent turn to YouTube—platforms rife with misinformation often disguised within seemingly harmless human interest groups.
This cyber incursions extend beyond social media, as a Feb. 2025 Social Weather Stations survey found that 62 percent of Filipinos consider fake news in traditional media a serious issue, with 65 percent struggling to distinguish between real and false information.
This erosion of public trust fuels societal divisions, reinforcing biases and political polarization.
The Philippine government is intensifying its cybersecurity efforts, with the National Security Strategy 2024 prioritizing cybersecurity as a key national defense pillar.
The proposed Cybersecurity Bill seeks to establish a National Cybersecurity Agency and enforce transparency in reporting cyber incidents, alongside legislation to regulate artificial intelligence and combat foreign interference.
The military is also contributing through initiatives like “ComPlan Mulat,” which aims to educate the public and counter disinformation.
Colonel Jo-ar Herrera of the Armed Forces of the Philippines emphasized the need for vigilance, stating, “Filipinos must know, defend, and support their digital and territorial sovereignty.” He further highlighted the role of the youth, with programs like TRIB-Youth fostering resilience and media literacy to prevent cognitive manipulation.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology is advancing its National Cybersecurity Plan 2023-2028, prioritizing real-time threat intelligence sharing between public and private sectors.
With 98 percent of critical infrastructure privately managed, DICT has evaluated over 400 government agencies, uncovering 3,000 vulnerabilities, half of which have been addressed.
The National Computer Emergency Response Team monitors 210 million monthly malicious queries and has resolved 2,500 cyber incidents in the past year.
DICT Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy emphasized, “The focus of the National Cybersecurity Plan is the collaboration between the executive branch, government, and private sector… this time, it is more realistic, more practical, and more about real-time information-sharing among industry players.”
Government allocation is also increasing. The Department of Budget and Management has boosted funding by 10 percent for 2025, with some sectors seeing a 312 percent increase.
Chief Information Officer USec. Maria Francesca Del Rosario emphasized the shift towards a zero-trust framework, ensuring strict identity verification and compliance with global security standards.
Beyond policy and funding, international cooperation remains crucial.
The Philippines is engaging in cyber defense cooperation with Canada and other allies, participating in joint training programs, intelligence sharing, and capacity-building initiatives. Support from programs like USAID’s Better Access and Connectivity (BEACON) initiative is also strengthening secure digital access and infrastructure.
But the fight extends beyond infrastructure and policy.
The real battleground is the whole information spectrum, where misinformation corrodes the foundation of truth, distorting reality and sowing confusion.
It erodes trust, fractures our society, and manipulates perceptions, deceiving people to act on falsehoods. In its wake, democracy falters, progress stalls, and the developmental pursuit of knowledge is overshadowed by cynicism and division.
We are amidst cyber wars for truth that is not just a defense of facts, but a fight to preserve the integrity of our shared humanity.