The five-year plan is expected to provide stronger safeguards for the nation in an increasingly interconnected and cyber-threatened world

On 6 April 2024, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. of the Philippines issued Executive Order No. 58, officiating the adoption of the National Cybersecurity Plan (NCSP) 2023–2028 developed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to strengthen the security and resilience of the country’s cyberspace for the next five years.

In the two-page EO 58, President Marcos noted that strengthening the security and resilience of the Philippine cyberspace is one of the key strategies to ensure safety and security in cyber and physical spaces under the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028. “The NCSP 2023-2028 is hereby adopted as the whole-of-nation roadmap for the integrated development and strategic direction of the country’s cybersecurity.”

The DICT’s NCSP roadmap outlines the country’s policy direction and provides operational guidelines towards a trusted, secured, and resilient cyberspace for every Filipino. Under EO 58, all concerned national government agencies and instrumentalities and local government units are directed to support and cooperate towards the successful implementation of the plan, while the DICT is ordered to adopt a system for effective implementation, monitoring and review.

Additionally, the DICT, in cooperation with the private sector, shall provide technical assistance to other government agencies and offices relative to the implementation of the NCSP as necessary.

Furthermore, the DICT is also directed to submit to the President a bi-annual report on the status and progress of the implementation of the NCSP 2023–2028 through the Office of the Executive Secretary and the National Cybersecurity Inter-Agency Committee (NCIAC).

EO 58 will take effect immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette, or through a newspaper of general circulation.

According to a report by the Philippine Information Agency, various business sectors in the country have offered positive feedback on the NCSP, showing a “unified sentiment of optimism towards a safer and more secure digital landscape for the country. From small businesses to large corporations, the recognition of cybersecurity as a cornerstone of national resilience is evident.”