Creation of Department of ICT pushed

MANILA, Philippines - The creation of a new agency on information and communications technology (ICT) would provide the country a “digital sentinel” against high-technology crimes, a senator said.

Sen. Ralph Recto said there is a need to form a Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) that would perform all tasks related to cyber-security.

“We live in an era when terrorists don’t have to blast bank doors to do mayhem but simply unleash a virus that could shred or suck out financial data. An enemy with a missile is as dangerous as one with malware,” Recto said in a statement.

“One of the reasons why a DICT must be formed is the need to have a digital sentinel,” he added.

Recto authored Senate Bill 2686, which seeks to create the DICT to allow the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to focus on problems plaguing the transport sector.