DICT highlights importance of data privacy for Caraga info officers
By Kelvin Kennt R. Generalo
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur (PIA)—Reymar A. Estafia, planning officer II of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Caraga, discussed an overview of the Data Privacy Act of 2012, during the annual Regional Information Officers Conference (RIOC) held in Butuan City last July 2.
Spearheaded by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga, the conference carried the theme “Maging Mapanuri: Strengthening Public Trust Through Responsible and Resilient Communication.”
“Data privacy aims to preserve and protect personal information against unauthorized access or misuse,” Estafia said.
He explained that responsible data handling requires a clear understanding of which data can be publicly shared and which must remain confidential to safeguard the rights of individuals.
Estafia underscored the vital role of information officers (IOs) in upholding the three core principles of the Data Privacy Act of 2012:
Transparency – informing data subjects of the nature, purpose, and extent of data collection;
Legitimate Purpose – ensuring that data is collected for lawful and explicitly defined objectives;
Proportionality – gathering only the data that is relevant and necessary for the declared purpose.
He encouraged IOs to apply these principles consistently in all their activities, including conferences, meetings, and any form of data gathering and information dissemination. Doing so, he said, helps build and maintain public trust while promoting ethical and responsible communication.
Estafia reminded IOs to always prioritize securing informed consent from clients of government services before using their personal information or photos in any form of publication or social media posting.
“We can—and we should—only publish information when we have the client’s consent,” he said.
“Once they sign the notice or consent form, it means they understand and agree to how their data will be used. That’s how we respect their rights,” he added.
The convergence of the regional information officers in Caraga served as a timely reminder of the responsibilities of public communicators in ensuring data protection, particularly in an era where information is rapidly disseminated through various digital platforms. (KKRG, PIA Agusan del Sur)
