Unified cybersecurity plan pushed – BusinessWorld Online

Unified cybersecurity plan pushed – BusinessWorld Online

https://bworldonline.com/the-nation/2026/06/23/758760/unified-cybersecurity-plan-pushed/

Publish Date: 2026-06-23 08:43:00

Source Domain: bworldonline.com

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Using an unordered list, summarize the following article with between 4 and 8 key points.
DICT.GOV.PH
THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is calling for a unified “whole-of-nation” approach to secure the Philippines’ digital landscape as they warn that cybersecurity has evolved into a critical factor for national security and economic stability.
“Cybersecurity is not a technical issue anymore. It is directly tied to national security, economic continuity, trust, and governance. As digital transformation accelerates across government and industry, our cybersecurity posture must evolve with equal urgency,” DICT Cybersecurity Bureau Deputy Division Chief Gladys S. de Ocampo said during Cyber Revolution Summit 2026 on Tuesday.
The strategy is formalized under the National Cyber Security Plan (NCSP) 2023-2028, which was officially adopted through Executive Order No. 58, series of 2024. This plan marked a significant transition from a “whole-of-government” to a “whole-of-nation” framework.
Ms. de Ocampo emphasized the necessity of the shift, stating that cybersecurity does not only affect the government.
The NCSP focuses on three primary outcomes, beginning with the proactive protection of the state and its citizens as it focuses on national digital assets that include government databases, power systems, telecommunications, and healthcare.
The second outcome targets workforce expansion capabilities, while the third focuses on improving policy frameworks and risk-based decision-making.
The evolution strategy comes as the DICT forecasts a more sophisticated threat landscape by 2026. The agency warned that ransomware attacks are transitioning from data encryption to disrupting operations to create public pressure, while artificial intelligence is being used to create more convincing phishing attempts and deepfakes.
Ms. de Ocampo noted that conditional perimeter-based security is “no longer sufficient,” highlighting that there is a necessity to move towards proactive defenses against cyberattacks.
The DICT is promoting a coordinated defense system through a nationwide computer emergency response team and security operations center model.
They are also urging agencies and private entities to implement practical improvements over the next 12 months, including the adoption of zero-trust principles and increased network visibility.
“The goal is to build measurable resilience progressively rather than attempting unrealistic overnight transformation.” — Juliana Chloe A. Gonzales