MANILA, Philippines - Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) reaffirmed its commitment to support the Philippines’ cybersecurity initiatives, particularly protection of critical information infrastructures and fighting cyber threats, JICA Philippines said.
“Alongside partners from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), JICA will support the protection of critical information infrastructures and empowering the Philippines in the fight against cyber threats,” JICA mentioned in a news release.
During the Critical Information Infrastructures Protection (CIIP) Summit held at the Sequoia Hotel Manila Bay, Paranaque City, JICA announced that it is sharing Japan’s expertise “through a 2-year technical cooperation project,” through exchanges with top cybersecurity experts to help boost the Philippines’ cyber defenses, which is in line with the country’s National Cybersecurity Plan 2023-2028.
In his opening remarks, JICA Chief Representative SAKAMOTO Takema emphasized JICA’s unwavering support for DICT’s cybersecurity agenda, particularly in strengthening the country’s defenses against emerging cyber threats.
Based on the United Nations Global Cybersecurity Index, the Philippines has advanced from its previous ranking from 61st in 2020 to 53rd in 2024, but ongoing threats to the country’s digital landscape remain.
A report from global cybersecurity firm Kaspersky ranked the Philippines 4th in the global ranking of countries with the highest web threats in 2023. The Philippines also ranked 1st in terms of the most attacked country by hackers in Southeast Asia region, JICA shared.
This underscores the significance of the ongoing cybersecurity cooperation between JICA and DICT, “Capacity Development for Cybersecurity” project, where JICA is dispatching Japanese experts to contribute to addressing the cybersecurity threats.
In line with this, JICA mentioned prominent Japanese cybersecurity experts, Mr. SASAKI Hiroshi and Mr. NAKAYAMA Kenta, are set to share insights on Public-Private Partnerships and workforce development, further reinforcing the summit’s theme of collaboration.
The JICA technical project began in 2023 with close cooperation with the DICT to increase the cyber defenses of the country’s Critical Information Infrastructures (CIIs).
According to JICA, this collaboration includes customized trainings, knowledge exchange, and enhanced sectoral coordination, as well as public awareness activities.
The CIIP Summit also highlighted the trilateral cooperation following the Philippines-Japan-US Trilateral Summit meeting held last April in Washington, D.C.
Joint efforts such as the summit continue to be pivotal in fortifying the region’s cybersecurity framework, JICA stated.
