AKO BICOL Party-list Representative Zaldy Co, chairman of the House appropriations committee, said he “will work with our colleagues in the Senate to look for more sources of funds for the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT).”
“We recognize the dire need for the DICT for resources to fight cybercrime and ransomware attacks. For the continuing ransomware attacks, we convey to the Department of Budget and Management the urgent need for additional funds for the DICT and for government agencies being attacked and vulnerable to cyberattacks,” Co said.
“We recognize the dire need for the DICT for resources to fight cybercrime and ransomware attacks.”
According to the legislator, perhaps the additional resources can come from the Unprogrammed Funds of the 2023 national budget.
“Maybe some of the vulnerable agencies’ savings can be authorized for augmentation spending on IT security and ransomware countermeasures,” the lawmaker added.
Bohol Third District Representative Alexie Tutor has this suggestion.
“DICT might also want to consult with the Department of Finance on funding because the World Bank recently approved a $600 million loan to the Philippines, specifically on digital and information technology,” Tutor stressed.
“It may be necessary to bring in experts from Interpol, our ASEAN neighbors, and maybe from the United States and Japan.”
To bring in more people to fight and identify the hackers, the lady legislator said, “It may be necessary to bring in experts from Interpol, our ASEAN neighbors, and maybe from the United States and Japan, in addition to those among the country’s 200 certified cybersecurity specialists.”
“DOJ and DICT would have to make the decision on that. It would be their judgment call and prerogative. Our country does have international bilateral and multilateral anti-crime agreements and arrangements that could be activated,” the lawmaker added.
“It does not look like the hacking into the House website is the handiwork of the sample people who hacked PhilHealth. But the level of the hacking skills used would be closer to those who hacked the DOST and the PNP,” she added.
“It would only be a matter of time before the perpetrators of these IT system intrusions are traced and identified. As to arrest and prosecution, the House will have to confer with the DOJ on that. Troubling, though, is the revelation of the DICT that they have been investigating about 3,000 reports,” Tutor concluded.
