DOJ, gov’t stakeholders back IT-BPM industry in cybersecurity concerns

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

The Department of Justice (DOJ) along with various government sectors and industry stakeholders, has pledged unwavering support to the Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) industry to spur competition and foster innovation while addressing critical justice issues.

During a multi-stakeholder dialogue facilitated by the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) and supported by Concentrix, industry leaders gathered to devise strategies against the surge of cybercrime, emphasizing the necessity for a robust legal framework that safeguards against illegal practices and encourages healthy competition.

Aside from the DOJ, speakers and representatives from the Supreme Court, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, National Privacy Commission, and National Prosecution Service participated in the dialogue.

The event was conducted in cooperation with the DOJ–Office for Competition on February 16.

“The government’s support to the sector is solid and consistent. There is a clear need for laws and regulations to adapt to the current cyber developments – to enable innovation,” DOJ Undersecretary Geronimo L. Sy said in a press statement.

The forum served as a platform for stakeholders to share insights and strategies that underscore quality, innovation, and value as the keystones of competition, rather than engaging in unfair practices.

Emphasizing on policy enhancement, DICT Undersecretary Jocelle Batapa-Sigue stated, “We need to help improve our existing policies to address and respond to the changing times.”

She advocated for the appointment of data protection officers in BPO firms and the provision of adequate training and resources for combating cybercrime at both regional and grassroots levels.

Celeste Ilagan, IBPAP Chief Policy Officer, highlighted the industry’s role in the economic landscape, “It is to the country’s advantage that we, as an industry with the different subsectors, different BPO players and individually, contribute to the resolution of this problem affecting the growth of the industry.”

She stressed the importance of addressing these issues to meet the industry’s ambitious targets of job creation and export revenue.

With an eye towards achieving its goal of generating 1.1 million jobs by 2028 and contributing 59 billion US dollars in export revenue, the IT-BPM industry stands poised to tackle these challenges head-on with a concerted effort from the government, law enforcement, and industry leaders.