DICT Caraga pursues PBBM’s digital protection agenda through cybersecurity training
By Nora L. Molde
DICT Caraga empowers the youth in Carmen, Agusan del Norte through a Cybersecurity Awareness Session during the Youth Leadership Summit that promotes digital safety and cyber resilience.
The 3-day event brings together 60 young leaders,
SK officials, out-of-school youth, and children in conflict with the law (CICL)
from the eight barangays. Photo courtesy of DICT Caraga.
BUTUAN
CITY (PIA)—In a significant step toward building a cyber-resilient society, the
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Caraga, through
its Cybersecurity Bureau, conducted a training entitled, “Cybersecurity
Awareness Session for Youth,” during the recent Youth Leadership Summit held in
Carmen, Agusan del Norte.
The
three-day summit with the theme, “Kabantan-onang Carmenanon Alang sa
Makanunayong Kalinaw ug Kalamboan (Carmenanon Youth For Sustainable Peace and
Development),” brought together 60 young leaders from the town’s eight
barangays, including Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials, out-of-school youth,
and children in conflict with the law. The event was held in partnership with
the SK Federated Council of Carmen and the Propelling Our Inherited Nation
Through Our Youth (POINTY), Inc., a youth organization.
The
DICT-led session introduced youth participants to digital safety practices,
emphasizing topics such as phishing, online privacy, password protection,
social engineering, and safe online behavior. The CIA Triad – Confidentiality,
Integrity, and Availability was discussed as a core cybersecurity framework.
Participants also learned practical ways to safeguard personal data, detect
scams, and maintain a healthy digital presence.
This
local effort is aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s national
agenda on cybersecurity. In his 2023 State of the Nation Address (SONA), the
President highlighted the urgent need to protect Filipinos from identity theft,
phishing, and other online scams, stressing that digital safeguards are
critical to the country’s transformation into a modern and efficient digital
society. He emphasized that securing internet systems is a key pillar in
ensuring public trust and safety in the digital age.
Building
on this commitment, President Marcos in his 2024 SONA announced the issuance of
Executive Order No. 58, which formally adopts the National Cybersecurity Plan
(NCSP) 2023–2028. The plan serves as a strategic roadmap to strengthen
cybersecurity infrastructure, fortify government networks, and protect citizen
services. The President also revealed plans to launch advanced cybersecurity
training programs, integrating them into the education system and public
service to develop a highly skilled digital workforce.
“These
directives from the President provide a clear mandate: Cybersecurity is not
optional, it is an urgent national priority,” said resource speaker Jovelyn
Logarta, planning assistant of DICT Caraga. “By educating and involving
the youth today, we are answering that call and investing in the country’s
future cyber defense.”
For
Jullie, a 17-year-old participant from Barangay Rojales, the session was
eye-opening. “I used to think cybersecurity was only for IT experts. Now I
understand that all of us, especially young people, need to protect ourselves
online.”
DICT
Caraga emphasized that nationwide cyber resilience starts at the grassroots, by
empowering communities, especially the youth, with the right tools and
awareness to become responsible and vigilant digital citizens.
DICT expressed gratitude to all its partners and youth leaders for their active participation and reaffirmed its commitment to creating safe, smart, and inclusive digital spaces in line with President Marcos Jr.’s vision of a digitally empowered Philippines. (NCLM, PIA Agusan del Norte)