ATOP official of a major cybersecurity group recently said the Philippines needs to step up its cybersecurity awareness to avoid being victims of crimes in the digital world.
Luis Jacinto, president of the Information Security Officers Group (ISOG), cited the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) findings that approximately 24.28 million Filipino ICT-device users experienced at least one cybersecurity incident in 2024. Furthermore, only 1.9 percent of affected individuals reportedly brought these incidents to the attention of authorities.
In a major conference panel, titled A United Front: Securing the Nation Against Evolving Cyber Threats, Jacinto said government and businesses must work together to enhance the cybercapability of the country. He also emphasized closer coordination among government policymakers, law enforcement agencies, enterprises, and cybersecurity providers to improve cyber defense readiness and develop a more unified national cybersecurity ecosystem.
In his talk, Jacinto pointed to artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies as drivers of increasingly complex cyber threats. Citing the World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026, Jacinto said AI is a major force transforming cybersecurity and emphasized the need to prepare for longer-term technological developments, including quantum computing.
Jacinto reinforced the importance of shared responsibility among government, enterprise, technology providers, and cybersecurity professionals in protecting the nation’s digital infrastructure and strengthening organizational resilience. During the conference, ISOG underscored the importance of continuous learning, mentorship and knowledge-sharing to develop information security professionals and strengthen the country’s cybersecurity capabilties. Furthermore, the initiative seeks to build lasting partnerships among government, business, technology providers, academia and cybersecurity professionals.
The conference brought together representatives from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), CICC, PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group and ISOG.
Established in 2018, I AM SECURE is a cybersecurity awareness and industry engagement platform spearheaded by the ISOG, with XMS as its strategic partner and producer, alongside key industry stakeholders.
Anchored on the theme Soaring High: Future-Ready in the Age of Intelligent Threats, the 2026 initiative emphasized strengthening enterprise, public and private alliances while advancing practical and scalable cybersecurity strategies.
Meanwhile, Alvin Punsalan, vice president of ISOG, reaffirmed the organization’s mission of developing information security professionals through continuous learning, knowledge exchange, mentorship, and industry collaboration.
He emphasized that ISOG’s progress extends beyond conference attendance and should be measured by the professional development, meaningful partnerships, and lasting value created for its members and the broader cybersecurity community.