Globe backs EO 119 on government data security

Globe Telecom welcomed Executive Order No. 119, saying the new government data classification and residency framework would strengthen cybersecurity, protect national interests, uphold digital sovereignty, and build public trust in online government services.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed EO 119 on July 13, 2026, to establish a unified, risk-based system for classifying, protecting, handling, and managing government information.

The order replaces a classification framework established under Memorandum Circular No. 78 in 1964 and later amended in 1968.

That framework was developed for a paper-based bureaucracy and was no longer fully responsive to cybersecurity risks, cloud computing, cross-border data flows, and other demands of digital governance, according to the order.

EO 119 divides government information into two broad categories: Restricted Access Data and Open Access Data.

Restricted Access Data is further classified as Top Secret, Secret, Confidential, or Restricted based on the potential harm that unauthorized disclosure could cause.

Top Secret and Secret information must be stored within Philippine territory or in places where the country exercises sovereignty or jurisdiction, including Philippine embassies and consulates.

Confidential information must generally remain within Philippine jurisdiction, although offshore storage or processing may be permitted with prior approval and adequate safeguards.

Restricted information may be stored on secured cloud-computing platforms subject to encryption, risk mitigation, and other cybersecurity requirements.

Open access and other government data may also use secure cloud platforms regardless of their physical location or ownership, provided that appropriate safeguards are implemented.

Globe said the framework recognizes the realities of the digital economy, in which governments must balance technological innovation and cloud adoption with national security, operational resilience, and public confidence.

“Executive Order No. 119 is a significant milestone in the country’s digital transformation journey. It provides a clear, risk-based framework that protects our most sensitive government information while allowing agencies to continue harnessing modern digital technologies responsibly,” said Atty. Vicente Froilan Castelo, General Counsel at Globe.

The order covers government data in digital or hybrid form that is owned, processed, or controlled by national government agencies, government-owned or -controlled corporations, and state universities and colleges.

It does not apply to commercial data owned by private companies, but it covers government information processed or stored by private entities on behalf of public agencies.

Those arrangements include public-private partnerships, public services, public utilities, critical infrastructure, and strategic or sensitive projects.

Globe said the policy comes as governments expand digital public services and increase their use of cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

The company said cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure, public institutions, and essential services are growing in scale and sophistication, making clear rules for storing, processing, and protecting government information increasingly important.

“Digital transformation succeeds only when people trust that government systems are secure,” said Carl Cruz, President and CEO of Globe. “The executive order strengthens that trust, ensuring sensitive government information receives the highest level of protection while allowing agencies to modernize responsibly. This is an important pillar on the road to becoming a digital nation.”

Globe said EO 119 gives government agencies and their private-sector partners clearer guidance for securely adopting cloud technologies while protecting information linked to national security and essential public services.

Government agencies remain responsible for compliance when using cloud providers or other private companies and must impose appropriate contractual and technical safeguards on information handled by those providers.

The order also creates a Joint Oversight Committee for Data Classification co-chaired by the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the National Security Council.

The committee’s members include the Department of the Interior and Local Government, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Department of Foreign Affairs, National Privacy Commission, Philippine Statistics Authority, and National Archives of the Philippines.

The committee must issue implementing guidelines within 120 days of the order’s effectivity.

Covered agencies must complete capacity-building measures, prepare inventories, and begin classifying their information within the first year.

Agencies must fully comply with requirements for Top Secret and Secret information within the second year.

Full compliance for all remaining government data is required within the third year.

Globe noted that the Philippines joins Australia, Singapore, India, and members of the European Union in adopting governance frameworks that seek to balance digital innovation with data protection.

The company said such policies have allowed governments to modernize public services while strengthening cybersecurity, resilience, and public trust.

Globe said EO 119 positions the Philippines to develop a more secure and trusted digital ecosystem.

The telecommunications company reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the government’s digital transformation agenda through secure connectivity, cloud services, cybersecurity, and trusted digital infrastructure that comply with Philippine regulations and globally recognized security standards.

“Trust is the foundation of every digital interaction,” Castelo added. “As more government services move online, protecting sensitive public sector data becomes essential to maintaining public confidence. EO 119 provides the governance needed to help agencies innovate securely, strengthen resilience, and deliver digital services that Filipinos can trust.”