Tech associations call for unity within DICT
(May 7, 2026 – Metro Manila, Philippines) The National Association of Data Protection Officers of the Philippines (NADPOP) and the Philippine Computer Emergency Response Team (PH-CERT) are calling on the leadership of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to resolve internal differences constructively and refocus efforts on sustaining critical digital initiatives and public service programs that directly benefit millions of Filipinos.
The statement comes in response to recent public posts and media reports citing concerns over internal organizational challenges and budgetary constraints allegedly affecting the operations of the eGovPH platform and related digital government services, including reports of temporary disruptions affecting several citizen-facing systems.
“Secretary Henry Aguda and Undersecretary David Almirol Jr. both come from the information technology industry. We know them personally and recognize their capabilities and contributions,” said Sam Jacoba, Founding President of NADPOP and Vice President of PH-CERT. “At this critical stage of the country’s digital transformation journey to be competitive in the Global Digital Economy, transparent collaboration, institutional stability, and good governance are essential. Any prolonged internal division within a key agency like the DICT can affect not only internal operations, but also public trust, service delivery, and the country’s digital transformation momentum.”
Unity for a digital-first Philippines
Jacoba added that delays, interruptions, or uncertainty involving major digital platforms such as eGovPH have direct consequences on the daily lives of Filipinos who increasingly rely on government digital services for efficiency, accessibility, and transparency.
Lito Averia, Founder of PH-CERT and one of the advocates who participated in congressional deliberations leading to the creation of the DICT, emphasized the importance of constructive dialogue and sector-wide cooperation.
“If needed, the country’s professional IT communities and Communities of Practice stand ready to help facilitate dialogue and support efforts toward institutional alignment and continuity,” Averia said. “When the DICT was created, the vision was to accelerate national development through innovation, digital governance, and technology-enabled public service. That vision remains important today.”
Carlos Titus Manuel, Founding Chair of NADPOP, stressed the importance of maintaining public confidence in government institutions tasked with driving national digital transformation.
“The Filipino people expect government institutions to remain focused on delivering reliable, trustworthy, and future-ready public services,” Manuel said. “We remain hopeful that the leadership of the DICT will work together in the best interest of the nation and reinforce the agency’s role as a pillar of innovation, digital governance, and public trust.”
NADPOP and PH-CERT, through their joint movement CyberBayan, reiterated their commitment to support initiatives that strengthen cyber leadership, cyber resilience, cybersecurity, data privacy, digital trust, artificial intelligence governance, and the delivery of ethical, resilient, trustworthy, and world-class digital services for Filipinos.
