PH National Privacy Commission Receives P100 Million Boost for Strengthening Data Protection

In response to recent data breaches affecting several government agencies, the National Privacy Commission (NPC) is set to receive an additional P100 million in the coming year to bolster its efforts in safeguarding citizens' data and combating cyberattacks. Senator Grace Poe, chair of the Senate public services committee, announced the allocation of the additional budget, emphasizing the importance of enhancing the NPC's capabilities to address the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats.

The supplementary budget will be allocated for crucial areas, including:

• Information communications technology (ICT) equipment

• ICT software and subscription

• Office rental

• Consultancy services

• Infrastructure for computer data management

• Other relevant equipment
  

These investments aim to empower the NPC to strengthen its public presence and lead in promoting awareness of data privacy. Senator Poe highlighted the importance of making the NPC the public's first point of contact for data privacy issues, akin to the emergency hotline 911 for emergencies.

Senator Poe stressed the need for continuous efforts to spread awareness of data privacy, especially in rural areas and among lower economic classes. The goal is to make individuals less vulnerable to data privacy abuses and ensure that citizens are well-informed about their rights and the measures in place to protect their data.

Senator Poe also urged the NPC to proactively collaborate with private entities to secure the data collected from the public, particularly with the implementation of the SIM Registration Act, a law she authored. As the privacy authority, the NPC plays a pivotal role in ensuring the protection of collected data and preventing breaches that could compromise citizens' privacy.

In a related development, the Commission on Audit (COA) flagged the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) over P2.69 billion in unliquidated fund transfers to the Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC), remaining unresolved for over 11 years. The COA emphasized the need for immediate action to account for all transfers made to the PITC, highlighting the materiality of the amount and the extended period of non-resolution.

As the NPC gears up to enhance its capabilities, the collaboration between government agencies becomes crucial in addressing cybersecurity challenges and fortifying the country's data protection measures.

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