MANILA, Philippines — Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos has urged public officials to strengthen cybersecurity leadership across government agencies to shield citizens’ data and sensitive information from rising digital threats amid the Marcos administration’s ongoing digital transformation push.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC)-National Cyber Training Institute’s Cyber Leadership Executive Course, Abalos emphasized that state institutions must guarantee their platforms are secure enough to protect the public and preserve civic trust.
“The true test of public service in the digital age must not only be about speed and modernity, but fundamentally secure and worthy of the people’s trust,” he stated.
“Progress means very little if the systems we rely on fail to protect citizens and safeguard sensitive information,” he added.
According to Abalos, proactive cyber readiness and strong leadership are imperative for state organs to effectively combat dynamic cyberspace risks. He pointed out that security mechanisms need to be embedded right at the conceptualization and development phase of digital platforms instead of being treated as an afterthought.
Aligning with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vision for a modernized and digitized bureaucracy, Abalos noted that public safety executives carry the responsibility of integrating robust safeguards into government networks.
He asserted that the true benchmark of public digitalization is not merely speed and accessibility, but the absolute resilience of institutions against data breaches and operational disruptions.
Furthermore, Abalos underlined that specialized cybersecurity training should translate directly into tangible safety measures rather than serving merely as credentials on paper.
He reiterated that building a digitally advanced Philippines requires a balance between technological modernization and unwavering security, ensuring that public confidence remains the bedrock of state digitalization efforts.