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Manila Bulletin devider Technews devider Philippines and South Korea sign $25.6M deal to establish National Cyber Security Center

Philippines and South Korea sign $25.6M deal to establish National Cyber Security Center

Published Apr 28, 2026 01:02 pm
The Philippines has taken a major step in fortifying its digital defenses after the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Republic of Korea formally signed an agreement to establish a National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) in the country.
The Records of Discussion were signed on April 27, 2026, in Quezon City, formalizing a USD 25.60 million grant from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), making it the largest KOICA-funded project in the Philippines to date. The funding will support a five-year program aimed at transforming the country's cybersecurity landscape.
What the National Cyber Security Center will do
At the core of the initiative is the creation of a centralized NCSC that will serve as the Philippines' primary hub for cyber threat monitoring, incident response, and coordinated national defense against cyberattacks. Beyond infrastructure, the center is designed to:
- Strengthen information security management across government agencies
- Enhance crisis response mechanisms against large-scale cyber incidents
- Develop a new generation of skilled Filipino cybersecurity professionals
The project is aligned with a directive from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to build a more resilient digital nation amid the growing scale and sophistication of cyber threats targeting government systems, critical infrastructure, and the everyday digital transactions of Filipino citizens.
Who signed the agreement
The ceremonial signing was led by DICT Secretary Henry R. Aguda and Republic of Korea Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa, joined by KOICA Deputy Country Director Lee Hwayeon and KOICA Country Director Youngsun Jung, along with representatives from the Korean Embassy in Manila.
Secretary Aguda framed the agreement as going beyond technical infrastructure, calling it a matter of public trust: "Cybersecurity is no longer a technical concern alone. It is about protecting the daily lives of our citizens, their data, their transactions, and their confidence in the systems they rely on."
"What we are building is trust, trust between nations, and trust that our systems will serve and protect our people," Aguda said.
Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa expressed confidence in the partnership's long-term impact: "When a partnership begins well, it lays the foundation for a meaningful and successful outcome. We are confident that this initiative will deliver lasting benefits for the Filipino people."
Why this Deal matters for the Philippines
As cyber threats grow in frequency and complexity worldwide, the Philippines has increasingly recognized that cybersecurity is a matter of national security, not just a technical issue. The establishment of the NCSC represents a strategic, government-level investment in the country's digital resilience, one backed by bilateral cooperation and significant international funding.

Related Tags

DICT Cybersecurity Korea Philippine-Korean collaboration NCSC National Cyber Security Center
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