DOJ, gov't stakeholders commit to address cybersecurity issues in IT-BPM industry

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and other key stakeholders reiterated their commitment to the Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) industry to foster competition, drive innovation, and address justice issues.

Key Resource Speakers in the “IT-BPM Cyber Resilience Forum - A Dialogue on Justice Issues in the BPO Sector” (L-R) Concentrix Asia Pacific General Counsel Atty. Michael Montero, Asst. State Prosecutor Moises Acayan, IBPAP Chief Policy & Regulatory Affairs Officer Celeste Ilagan, Department of Justice Usec. Geronimo Sy, Department of Information and Communications Technology Usec. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, National Bureau of Investigation Cybercrime Division Executive Officer Atty. Raymond Panotes, and Alorica Vice President and Associate General Counsel Atty. Mikee Ong

The IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), supported by Concentrix, hosted a multi-stakeholder dialogue on justice issues in the sector in collaboration with the DOJ–Office for Competition last February 16.

Aside from the DOJ, speakers and representatives from the Supreme Court, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, National Privacy Commission, and National Prosecution Service participated in the dialogue.

The discussion recognized the need to tighten cybersecurity and confront the rising incidents of cybercrime including fraud, covering sessions such as collaborative strategies for cyber resilience and implementing best practices for effective cybercrime investigations. It also encouraged healthy industry competition by promoting a legal framework that deters illegal practices.

“The government’s support to the sector is solid and consistent. There is a clear need for laws and regulations to adapt to the current cyber developments – to enable innovation,” said DOJ Undersecretary Geronimo L. Sy.

Stakeholders were provided an avenue to exchange insights and empower each other to compete on the basis of quality, innovation, and value, rather than resorting to illicit tactics to gain an unfair advantage.

DICT Undersecretary Jocelle Batapa-Sigue added, “We need to help improve our existing policies to address and respond to the changing times.” She stressed the need to strongly encourage the designation of data protection officers in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) entities as prescribed by law, and provide training and equipment on cybercrime for law enforcers and the community at the regional level and the countryside.

“It is to the country’s advantage that we, as an industry with the different subsectors, different BPO players and individually, contribute to the resolution of this problem affecting the growth of the industry,” said Celeste Ilagan, IBPAP Chief Policy Officer. She further underscored the significance of addressing the issue, “If we do not address this problem, our target of creating 1.1 million jobs by 2028 and contributing 59 billion US dollars of export revenue will not happen.”