The Philippines’ Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is exploring avenues to obtain financial backing, potentially through a World Bank (WB) loan or overseas development assistance (ODA) from South Korea, aiming to strengthen the country’s cyber defenses, improve connectivity, and reinforce data center infrastructure.
According to Jeffrey Ian Dy, the ICT undersecretary for cybersecurity, connectivity, and upskilling, approximately P300 million has been allocated for initiatives aimed at enhancing the country’s cybersecurity posture this year. Dy further disclosed that South Korea has offered an ODA of $20 million, while the World Bank is considering a $40 million loan to address cybersecurity needs.
During discussions with the WB, Dy mentioned that the potential loan amount under consideration is a substantial $300 million, encompassing funding for connectivity and data center infrastructure projects alongside cybersecurity initiatives.
Dy outlined the department’s plans to significantly reinforce the National Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT) and National Security Operations Center (NSOC) to strengthen the country’s cyber defense capabilities, particularly in safeguarding critical information infrastructure (CII). He emphasized the importance of this initiative, especially following President Marcos’s recent approval of the five-year National Cybersecurity Plan 2023-2028.
Highlighting the distinct roles, Dy explained that while the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center focuses on combating cybercrime and law enforcement in cyberspace, the DICT’s focus lies in protecting and defending the country’s CII. This involves the establishment of the NCERT and NSOC, as well as engagement in defense and intelligence work, malware analysis, and assistance in identifying new threats.