DICT trains DepEd Surigao Norte personnel on PNPKI
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte (PIA) — In pushing toward paperless, secure, and modern public administration, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Caraga recently conducted a comprehensive three-day training on the Philippine National Public Key Infrastructure (PNPKI) with the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Surigao del Norte.
Held at the DepEd Division Training Center in Surigao City, the initiative trained 228 teaching and non-teaching personnel in Surigao del Norte across three intensive batches
It aimed to equip educational leaders and administrative staff with the essential technical skills to integrate secure digital certificates and legally binding electronic signatures into their day-to-day operations.
As government agencies accelerate their shift toward digital service delivery, ensuring document integrity and preventing cyber threats remain top priorities.
The PNPKI serves as the backbone of secure digital transactions within the Philippine government, ensuring four critical pillars of information security such authentication and verification the true identity of document signers and system users, integrity means ensuring electronic documents are tamper-proof and have not been altered in transit, confidentiality of safeguarding sensitive administrative and student data from unauthorized access, and non-repudiation of legal proof of transaction origins under the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 (Republic Act No. 8792).
Throughout the three-day program, participants engaged in a blend of theoretical instruction and practical application.
Topics covered included the legal frameworks governing e-signatures, certificate lifecycle management, and cybersecurity best practices for managing digital identities. Hands-on laboratory sessions guided educators through the installation, configuration, and practical application of PNPKI certificates for official correspondence.
To bridge technical gaps, open forum sessions provided participants direct access to DICT experts, addressing real-world concerns regarding certificate application pipelines, troubleshooting installation errors, and seamless day-to-day workflow integration.
Barry Jessie B. Digol, information technology officer of DepEd Surigao del Norte Division, said, “The adoption of PNPKI is a significant step towards building a secure and trusted digital government.”
“DICT and DepEd are empowering the educators and administrative personnel with the knowledge and tools necessary to securely authenticate electronic documents and support efficient digital service delivery,” Digol added, while emphasizing the transformative impact of the training on operational efficiency and administrative trust.
“This initiative strengthens our capability to embrace digital transformation while ensuring the security, authenticity, and integrity of our official electronic transactions. We are grateful to DICT Caraga for continuously supporting DepEd in this important undertaking,” he told the participants.
The successful rollout highlighted the fruitful collaboration between DICT Caraga and DepEd Surigao del Norte. By transitioning from traditional paper-based workflows to secure, authenticated digital channels, the division expects to significantly reduce administrative processing times, cut paper costs, and minimize bureaucratic bottlenecks.
As the primary ICT driver in Caraga, the DICT remains committed to rolling out robust cybersecurity frameworks, improving public connectivity, and equipping public servants with the digital tools needed for transparent, efficient, and resilient public service. (SDR, PIA Surigao del Norte with a report from DICT Caraga)