The Quezon City government will run after individuals who will attempt to hack or tinker with its data and information system as it gradually shifts into offering more digital services.
Mayor Joy Belmonte on Friday issued the warning as the local government vowed to “prosecute to the full extent of the law” hackers and other cyber-criminals who will tamper with their data.
“This should serve as a warning to those who would try to tinker with the city government’s data because we will deal with them with the full force of the law,” Belmonte said.
“We also assure our residents that there’s nothing to worry about because your data is safe,” she added as she acknowledged that as “the city moves into the digital space, the risk of online intrusion against vital public and private data correspondingly increases.”
Under Executive Order No. 4-2021, the mayor mandated the strict enforcement of the Data Privacy Act and the Cybercrime Prevention Act to assure the public of the safety and security of the city’s online systems.
She also tasked the Office of the City Administrator to serve as the lead office in recommending, overseeing, and ensuring the best practices in cyber-security for the city’s online systems and coordinate with the Information Technology and Development Department (ITDD).
The cyber-security measures, according to the local government, include application security, information security, network security, data backup and recovery, operational security, and employees' training.
Currently, the Quezon City government’s online services include its QC E-Services web portal, the QC Biz Easy online business permits service, and the QC ID online registration system.