First major cybersecurity conference opens next week

MANILA, Philippines — Top government officials, cyber experts and stakeholders are coming together for the first major cybersecurity event of 2024, organized by international think tank Stratbase Institute.

The two-day conference, dubbed “Fortifying Cyber Cooperation Towards Digital Security,” will be held from Jan. 16-17 in Makati City, in partnership with the Embassy of Canada.

Key leaders and experts from the private sector, academe, diplomatic community and civil society organizations are also expected to join the conference.

Stratbase Institute president Dindo Manhit said the conference emphasizes the need for a whole-of-society approach to ensure that the country’s economic and national defense systems are resilient from cyber attacks this 2024 and beyond.

“The Philippines is expected to continue its pursuit of digital transformation with a focus on promoting inclusive economic growth and safeguarding cyberspace. But it takes a whole-of-society to do this. The public and the private sector must be actively engaged to achieve a digitally transformed and competitive Philippines. That is the whole idea behind the conference,” Manhit said.

“A whole-of-Philippine society approach is critical to fully participate in the global digital economy and ensure cyber resilience. This approach opens the space for cooperation and innovation between the public and private sectors, and with like-minded partners,” he said.

Manhit noted that the National Security Policy Framework 2022-2028 has identified cyber, information and cognitive security as a national security interest and a national security agenda.

The conference will focus on examining the current cybersecurity landscape of the Philippines, including policies and strategies to manage cyber risks, and different cyber-related issues in various sectors of the country including cybercrimes and disinformation.