Saint Louis University (SLU) hosted the first Strategic Planning Conference in the Philippines (StratPlanConPH) for Data Protection Officers, Chief Information Security Officers, Chief Information Officers, and Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) practitioners and professionals on 6-7 December 2023.
Organized in partnership with the National Association of Data Protection Officers of the Philippines (NADPOP), the Philippine’s first Community of Practice for Data Privacy and Cybersecurity, and the Philippine Computer Emergency Response Team (PH-CERT), the country’s first CERT and recognized internationally, SLU spearheaded the event titled, “StratPlanConPh: Getting Ready for Data Privacy and Cybersecurity in 2024”.
The two-day Conference held on 6-7 December 2023 delved into discussions on the Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, and Incomprehensible (BANI) framework, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and GRC.
SLU President, Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, in his opening remarks, noted that the country has been facing significant data privacy and cybersecurity risks and threats such as ransomware attacks against both government agencies and private sector. He said, “Saint Louis University has long recognized the value of taking a proactive approach to protecting data privacy and ensuring cybersecurity. We have established a separate office, our Data Privacy Office, to undertake the necessary actions and these include the conduct of seminars, symposiums, and conferences as what we are having today.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Engels Antonio, Philippine National Police – National Advisory Group for Police Transformation and Development (PNP-NAGPTD) IT Lead and PNP Information Technology Services (ITMAS) AGTD Chair, highlighted the escalating cybersecurity threats in the first and third quarters of 2023, including phishing attacks, ransomware, and data breaches.
Anticipating a surge in ransomware incidents in 2024 and realizing the importance of data privacy and cybersecurity, the conference drew attendance and support from different industries including Atty. Rainier Milanes, Chief Information Technology Officer and Complaints & Monitoring Division Chief; Undersecretary Jeffrey Ian Dy, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT); Tristan Arwen Loveres, Country Manager of TUV Rheinland Philippines; Sonnie Santos, Chief Human Resource Officer of Market Reach Intl. Resources; Gonz Gonzales, President of Cloud Security Alliance Philippines; and Leah Besa-Jimenez, Chief Data Protection Officer of PLDT Group.
PH-CERT pledged to collaborate with SLU and NADPOP to leverage resources and expertise from the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Community Alliance (AJCCA) to further enhance the cybersecurity defenses in the Philippines, particularly in the regional areas surrounding SLU.
SLU signs MOU with NADPOP, PH-CERT
SLU through its Data Protection Office has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with two leading organizations in the field of data privacy and cybersecurity: the National Association of Data Protection Officers of the Philippines (NADPOP) and the Philippine Computer Emergency Response Team (PH-CERT). This partnership aims to elevate the skills and competencies of Baguio professionals and practitioners in Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC).
The official signing occurred on 06 December 2023, at the Fr. Gevers Hall during the Global Center of Excellence (GCOE) Launch in Data Privacy and Cybersecurity conference. SLU Vice President for Administration, Atty. Shellah Yzanne Merced, signed the MOU alongside NADPOP Founding President and PH-CERT Vice President, Mr. Sam Jacobo.
SLU, NADPOP, PH-CERT Partnership: A Global Center of Excellence
To mark the newly formed partnership between NADPOP, PH-CERT and SLU, a partnership poster featuring the emblems and logos of all institutions was unveiled at the SLU Data Privacy Office in the Charles Vath Building.
This marked the launch of the SLU Global Center of Excellence, a center aimed at intensifying and centralizing data privacy and cybersecurity collaborative efforts for the benefit not only of SLU, but also of the rest of the region.
Dr. Cecilia Mercado, the Data Protection Officer and Head of the SLU Data Protection Office, emphasized the significance of this program in safeguarding the university’s data subjects, students, faculty, and stakeholders. She underscored the pivotal role of education in fortifying defenses, stating, “Our focus is on people—protecting and educating them. Education stands as our best defense.”
Meanwhile, in a press briefing, Mr. Jacobo lauded SLU as a leading institution both locally, in the North, and globally, highlighting its status as the organization’s first partner in the Philippines. He expressed full support for the university’s initiatives, unveiling plans for a student certification program and the establishment of the Junior Privacy Organization for the Philippines (J-PAP), aiming to foster a student community. Moreover, the collaboration extends to partnering with the National Privacy Commission for their Kabataang Digital Initiative, inviting them to SLU.
