{ "hearing": { "hearing_id": 53, "title": "Senate Committee on Finance: DICT - September 23, 2026", "hearing_date": "2026-09-23", "official_url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxhGPTL1Uik" }, "digest_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/digests/h53/", "notice": "AI-assisted working draft. AI can make errors. Always verify consequential interpretations and wording against the cited transcript and official video.", "at_a_glance": [ { "label": "Budget scope and follow-up", "text": "The FY2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP) hearing covered the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), National Privacy Commission (NPC), and National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). The hearing compared FY2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) funding with new proposals. Their presentations gave program funding, revenues and additional requests, but omitted whole-agency NEP and original-request totals. Subcommittee Chair Senator Pia S. Cayetano sought funding priorities and full connectivity and data-center cost plans. She was ready to submit the DICT budget to plenary; additional requests remained for consideration.", "citations": [] }, { "label": "Connectivity and emergency access", "text": "DICT described the National Broadband Program and Philippine Digital Infrastructure Project as building backbone and middle-mile links, alongside free public internet, Bayanihan SIM access, and emergency communications for communities and public-service sites. Presentations covered schools, government facilities, disaster-prone areas, and remote communities, with gaps and future implementation still under discussion.", "citations": [] }, { "label": "Digital government and workforce", "text": "The hearing covered the e-government app, digital identity, local-government services, and government data-center infrastructure, as well as digital-skills training and pathways into information and communications technology (ICT) work. Members raised practical access to computers, long-term platform security, local technical capacity, and staffing needed to sustain government systems.", "citations": [] }, { "label": "Cybersecurity, complaints, and privacy", "text": "DICT outlined cybersecurity monitoring, incident response, prevention, and institutional readiness. CICC described a no-wrong-door approach to cybercrime complaints, case development, referrals, and proactive monitoring of scams, child exploitation, and illegal recruitment. NPC presented public education, breach response, registration improvements, and a planned complaints chatbot. Members urged responsible artificial intelligence (AI) use, information sharing, and human involvement in sensitive cases; proposed AI tools and capacity improvements remain subject to resources and implementation.", "citations": [] }, { "label": "Telecommunications regulation and consumer service", "text": "NTC described rulemaking for connectivity and spectrum, site blocking, regional mobile licensing, public information work, and handling of scam, telecommunications, and lost-device complaints. The presentation also distinguished collections remitted to the National Treasury from Spectrum User Fees (SUF) earmarked for specified digital programs.", "citations": [] } ], "method_note": "Follow the timestamps to the reviewed transcript and official video. Program allocations, revenue targets and additional requests retain their stated scope. Ambiguous financial units remain explicit; requests and planned work are distinguished from approved funding and completed services.", "sections": [ { "key": "budget-department-of-information-and-communications-technology", "label": "Department of Information and Communications Technology budget", "items": [ { "label": "Digital skills and industry development allocations", "text": "For fiscal year 2027, the digital-skills program's NEP allocation was P312.527 million. Its targets were 851,440 Filipinos, training support for 1,000 partner-owned Tech4Ed centers, 70 operational DICT-owned Digital Transformation Centers, 500,000 registered unique learners under the Digital Workforce Hub, and 42 local freelancer organizations formed under SPARK.\n\nFor fiscal year 2027, the ICT Industry Development Program had P61.891 million in proposed funding. Targets were 631,251 Filipinos, 434 public- and private-sector partnerships, and 641 ICT-industry support initiatives. The listed work covered startup growth, regional digital readiness, MSME digital transformation, freelancer and ITBPM support, mentorship, industry promotion, and institutional development.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000137", "start_seconds": 930.0, "clock": "00:15:30", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000137" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000156", "start_seconds": 1018.72, "clock": "00:16:58", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000156" } ] }, { "label": "Programs affected by budget cuts", "text": "Senator Joseph Victor \"JV\" G. Ejercito, chair of the Committee on Finance, said limited fiscal space meant most departments and budgets faced considerable cuts. He asked DICT to identify the programs that would be severely affected and provide a list later of programs needing funds for the committee to consider during the budget hearings.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000176", "start_seconds": 1102.98, "clock": "00:18:22", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000176" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000178", "start_seconds": 1108.34, "clock": "00:18:28", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000178" } ] }, { "label": "National Broadband Program funding", "text": "DICT Assistant Secretary Pinky T. Jimenez presented these infrastructure program accounts. For fiscal year 2026, the National Broadband Program (NBP) received P667 million for operation and maintenance of Phases 1, 2, and 3 and the five existing GovNet networks. For fiscal year 2027, its NEP allocation was P1.129 billion to maintain the backbone and sustain the GovNet footprint.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000212", "start_seconds": 1288.3400000000001, "clock": "00:21:28", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000212" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000214", "start_seconds": 1302.58, "clock": "00:21:42", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000214" } ] }, { "label": "Philippine Digital Infrastructure Project funding", "text": "For fiscal year 2027, the Philippine Digital Infrastructure Project (PDIP) had a P2.140 billion NEP allocation for continued implementation, including operation of 37 nodes and completion of four middle-mile level-one segments across the regional cluster. The project is supported by World Bank official development assistance.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000235", "start_seconds": 1423.1399999999999, "clock": "00:23:43", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000235" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000236", "start_seconds": 1425.1599999999999, "clock": "00:23:45", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000236" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000222", "start_seconds": 1360.88, "clock": "00:22:40", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000222" } ] }, { "label": "Broadband backbone investment and funding", "text": "Cayetano asked the DICT to account for the total investment already made and planned for the broadband backbone, including Phases 1 through 6. Jimenez cited the 2026 National Broadband Program maintenance allocation and government-connectivity work, explaining that the World Bank-supported Philippine Digital Infrastructure Project (PDIP) complements the limited national budget. She reported P3.2 billion in FY2026 PDIP funding, with obligations and procurement ongoing.\n\nCayetano asked DICT to submit a complete account of past investment and future requirements. Jimenez acknowledged the request; the figures offered during the exchange were a partial response rather than the complete investment account requested.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000246", "start_seconds": 1445.92, "clock": "00:24:05", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000246" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000258", "start_seconds": 1469.98, "clock": "00:24:29", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000258" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000275", "start_seconds": 1505.5, "clock": "00:25:05", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000275" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000276", "start_seconds": 1507.5, "clock": "00:25:07", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000276" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000297", "start_seconds": 1542.7, "clock": "00:25:42", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000297" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000314", "start_seconds": 1561.46, "clock": "00:26:01", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000314" } ] }, { "label": "Free public internet funding", "text": "For FY2027, the Free Public Internet Access Program retains P5 billion in the NEP, matching the P5 billion funding level for FY2026. DICT Assistant Secretary Christian Mark G. Guingcangco presented the program.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000331", "start_seconds": 1597.8400000000001, "clock": "00:26:37", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000331" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000351", "start_seconds": 1637.02, "clock": "00:27:17", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000351" } ] }, { "label": "Bayanihan SIM funding", "text": "For 2026, Jimenez said Bayanihan SIM had no GAA provision because DICT was still implementing the 2025 carryover. For 2027, she reported a P6 billion subsequent request for the Free Internet Access Fund from the Free Wi-Fi for All budget under the additional-fund guidelines. This was a subsequent request, not the NEP allocation.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000437", "start_seconds": 1847.2, "clock": "00:30:47", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000437" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000439", "start_seconds": 1852.24, "clock": "00:30:52", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000439" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000466", "start_seconds": 1906.02, "clock": "00:31:46", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000466" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000467", "start_seconds": 1907.78, "clock": "00:31:47", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000467" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000470", "start_seconds": 1913.12, "clock": "00:31:53", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000470" } ] }, { "label": "Emergency communications funding", "text": "For FY2027, the NEP provides P310.5 million for the DICT Government Emergency Communications System. The allocation supports 68 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite sets and three additional Mobile Operations Vehicles (MOVE), covering 1.3 million beneficiaries and continued operation of the early warning broadcast system and network-in-a-box capabilities.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000515", "start_seconds": 2028.94, "clock": "00:33:48", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000515" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000517", "start_seconds": 2039.74, "clock": "00:33:59", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000517" } ] }, { "label": "Cybersecurity NEP figures and targets", "text": "For FY 2027, DICT Cybersecurity Bureau Officer-in-Charge Rodil M. Aniban reported 497,305 as the NEP figure, alongside targets for security assistance to 3,900 systems, incident-response assistance to 1,200 institutions, threat monitoring for 360 national government agencies, and protected Domain Name System (DNS) services for 100 agencies. He later cited 55,227 with the FY 2027 expansion of the cybersecurity prevention and institutional-readiness program. The transcript gives no currency or unit scale for either figure, so their monetary amounts remain ambiguous.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000610", "start_seconds": 2211.24, "clock": "00:36:51", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000610" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000656", "start_seconds": 2312.56, "clock": "00:38:32", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000656" } ] }, { "label": "Public key infrastructure funding", "text": "For FY2027, DICT presented a budget requirement for the Philippine National Public Key Infrastructure (PNPKI). The transcript states the amount as \"331,534\" and then says \"million\"; it does not reconcile the amount and scale, so the exact total remains unclear.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000918", "start_seconds": 3047.7, "clock": "00:50:47", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000918" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000919", "start_seconds": 3051.7, "clock": "00:50:51", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000919" } ] }, { "label": "DICT policy office FY2027 funding need", "text": "DICT Undersecretary for Policy, Legal, and Communications Sarah Maria Q. Sison said the office needed P11.881 million for its FY2027 policy work.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001128", "start_seconds": 3468.9, "clock": "00:57:48", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001128" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001129", "start_seconds": 3470.9, "clock": "00:57:50", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001129" } ] }, { "label": "e-Governance Act implementation funding", "text": "The FY2027 NEP proposes P1.837 billion for the new e-Governance Act Implementation Program, which DICT Undersecretary David Almirol Jr. said would put the law (Republic Act No. 12254) and its implementing rules into operation across government. He said the 2026 GAA had no corresponding provision because the program is designed to operationalize the new law.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001190", "start_seconds": 3596.9, "clock": "00:59:56", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001190" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001191", "start_seconds": 3600.0, "clock": "01:00:00", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001191" } ] }, { "label": "e-government app and service funding", "text": "For FY2027, the NEP provides P1.358 billion for the e-Government app and services presented by DICT.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001221", "start_seconds": 3780.54, "clock": "01:03:00", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001221" } ] }, { "label": "National Government Data Center funding and utilization", "text": "For FY2027, DICT presented a P949 million budget for the National Government Data Center, alongside targets for protection against distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, government cloud hosting, and collocation services.\n\nAlmirol reported 91% budget utilization for the program in 2025. Its August 2026 utilization was 50% against a 98% annual target.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001294", "start_seconds": 3979.08, "clock": "01:06:19", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001294" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001256", "start_seconds": 3903.74, "clock": "01:05:03", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001256" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001289", "start_seconds": 3969.26, "clock": "01:06:09", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001289" } ] }, { "label": "Use of e-government implementation funding for IT compensation", "text": "Cayetano warned that local experts could be lost because foreign companies had greater capacity to sustain them. Almirol said DICT would allocate part of the e-government-law implementation budget to increase compensation for IT experts joining the department, supporting the staffing needed to sustain the systems.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001439", "start_seconds": 4309.58, "clock": "01:11:49", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001439" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001451", "start_seconds": 4335.04, "clock": "01:12:15", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001451" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001452", "start_seconds": 4336.76, "clock": "01:12:16", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001452" } ] }, { "label": "FY 2027 systems operations and infrastructure budget", "text": "Guingcangco said the FY 2027 NEP provides P1.005 billion for ICT systems and infrastructure management services. The budget supports 12 co-located agencies and projects at 99.98% uptime, monitoring more than 2,089 GovNet sites, and standby emergency-response funds in 17 regions. It also provides for 140,000 GovMail accounts for 1,063 agencies or domains, equipment refresh for 1,282 agencies, and GovNet connectivity operation and maintenance for 796 agencies.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001487", "start_seconds": 4413.18, "clock": "01:13:33", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001487" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001488", "start_seconds": 4416.34, "clock": "01:13:36", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001488" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001504", "start_seconds": 4447.12, "clock": "01:14:07", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001504" } ] }, { "label": "DICT budget utilization and year-end projection", "text": "DICT Undersecretary for Support Services Heherson M. Asiddao reported that during the prior administration the department averaged 52% budget utilization, with its lowest rate, 32%, in 2022. Starting in 2023, utilization improved to about 74%; the department reached a high of 87% in 2024. For FY2026, Asiddao described about 90% by December as the projected year-end utilization.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-002260", "start_seconds": 6151.48, "clock": "01:42:31", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002260" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002263", "start_seconds": 6157.08, "clock": "01:42:37", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002263" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002267", "start_seconds": 6165.34, "clock": "01:42:45", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002267" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002275", "start_seconds": 6179.96, "clock": "01:42:59", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002275" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002277", "start_seconds": 6183.42, "clock": "01:43:03", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002277" } ] }, { "label": "Data-center funding request and complete implementation plan", "text": "Cayetano referred to the FY2027 data-center allocation in rounded terms as P900 million; Almirol confirmed. Cayetano recalled an earlier per-center, multi-year figure but was unsure of its basis. Almirol said it might have been the request. When Cayetano asked whether the P2.5 billion request was additional, Almirol confirmed it was an additional data-center request. The earlier per-center and multi-year scope was not settled in this exchange.\n\nCayetano asked DICT to submit a complete picture of prior investment, how many centers it intended to build, its operating vision and costs, how much had already been budgeted, how much more was needed, and the target operational date. Almirol agreed to submit the information.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-002290", "start_seconds": 6211.54, "clock": "01:43:31", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002290" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002292", "start_seconds": 6215.96, "clock": "01:43:35", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002292" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002308", "start_seconds": 6239.08, "clock": "01:43:59", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002308" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002315", "start_seconds": 6253.32, "clock": "01:44:13", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002315" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002320", "start_seconds": 6260.08, "clock": "01:44:20", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002320" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002341", "start_seconds": 6303.84, "clock": "01:45:03", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002341" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002368", "start_seconds": 6337.22, "clock": "01:45:37", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002368" } ] }, { "label": "Budget prioritization and the department's 2027 commitments", "text": "Cayetano said she would submit the additional requests, screen them for priority, and help the committee chair find funding for the most important needs. DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda said the department would work with the budget provided, submit requests to the extent allowed, and still deliver what was expected of it in 2027.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-002752", "start_seconds": 6819.74, "clock": "01:53:39", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002752" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002760", "start_seconds": 6828.4, "clock": "01:53:48", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002760" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002784", "start_seconds": 6861.4400000000005, "clock": "01:54:21", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002784" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002795", "start_seconds": 6873.4400000000005, "clock": "01:54:33", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002795" } ] }, { "label": "Budget submission readiness and possible follow-up", "text": "Cayetano said she was ready to submit the DICT budget to plenary, while noting that she personally wanted to ask more about the additional budget and would facilitate later questions or a meeting if needed. She asked DICT to keep furnishing the committee with its priorities, thanked the officials for explaining their work, and closed the hearing. This was readiness to submit the budget, not an appropriation or approval of additional funds.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-002950", "start_seconds": 7543.75, "clock": "02:05:43", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002950" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002951", "start_seconds": 7560.0, "clock": "02:06:00", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002951" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002952", "start_seconds": 7590.0, "clock": "02:06:30", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002952" } ] } ] }, { "key": "budget-cybercrime-investigation-and-coordinating-center", "label": "Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center budget", "items": [ { "label": "Cybercrime complaint-center staffing and funding constraint", "text": "The CICC said its prepared center could accommodate 50 people, but funding constraints left it able to engage only about 20.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001760", "start_seconds": 5009.08, "clock": "01:23:29", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001760" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001763", "start_seconds": 5015.84, "clock": "01:23:35", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001763" } ] } ] }, { "key": "budget-national-privacy-commission", "label": "National Privacy Commission budget", "items": [ { "label": "NPC proposed increase and program priorities", "text": "NPC Privacy Commissioner Johann Carlos S. Barcena said the NPC's FY2027 NEP-level budget was 14% higher than its FY2026 GAA level, allowing existing public-education and compliance-check programs to continue. He described a P60 million increase for 2027 to further fund strategic priorities: expanded security response and dark-web monitoring for data-breach information, proactive breach detection, an AI complaints chatbot, greater registration-processing capacity, and expanded Privacy Awareness Week participation and a national data-privacy survey. The presentation did not state the full FY2027 NEP total or the original agency-requested total.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001893", "start_seconds": 5290.98, "clock": "01:28:10", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001893" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001896", "start_seconds": 5296.96, "clock": "01:28:16", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001896" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001942", "start_seconds": 5386.86, "clock": "01:29:46", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001942" } ] }, { "label": "NPC request for a FY2027 GAA registration and DPO provision", "text": "Cayetano asked about data protection officer (DPO) designations in government. Barcena said NPC data showed only about half of government agencies were registered with the NPC, meaning they had registered DPOs. He said the NPC had committed to the DICT that all government agencies would be registered by the end of 2028.\n\nThe NPC requested a general provision in the FY2027 GAA requiring all government agencies to register with the NPC and designate a DPO at the level specified by its applicable circular. Cayetano said the request sounded reasonable.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-002009", "start_seconds": 5641.52, "clock": "01:34:01", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002009" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002015", "start_seconds": 5653.66, "clock": "01:34:13", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002015" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002018", "start_seconds": 5659.76, "clock": "01:34:19", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002018" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002029", "start_seconds": 5681.42, "clock": "01:34:41", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002029" } ] } ] }, { "key": "budget-national-telecommunications-commission", "label": "National Telecommunications Commission budget", "items": [ { "label": "Regulatory-output budget", "text": "NTC Commissioner Ella Blanca B. Lopez reported a P564 million 2026 budget for regulatory outputs, with targets for licenses and registrations, inspections, and frequency assignments. For FY 2027, the NEP provides P580 million for expanded regulatory outputs, including 9.4 million licenses and related issuances, 342,000 radio-station inspections, and 118,793 frequency assignments. These are regulatory-output amounts, not the whole-agency total.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-002084", "start_seconds": 5791.78, "clock": "01:36:31", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002084" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002100", "start_seconds": 5824.16, "clock": "01:37:04", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002100" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002101", "start_seconds": 5825.96, "clock": "01:37:05", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002101" } ] }, { "label": "Adjudication and consumer-protection budget", "text": "Lopez reported a separate P42.28 million FY 2027 amount for the adjudication function, targeting disposition of 5,402 administrative cases and 730 authorization cases.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-002210", "start_seconds": 6046.04, "clock": "01:40:46", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002210" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002211", "start_seconds": 6049.2, "clock": "01:40:49", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002211" } ] }, { "label": "Revenue generation, targets, and remittances", "text": "NTC generated P3.77 billion in revenue in the first half of 2026, against a P7.16 billion full-year target. P3.24 billion of the first-half revenue came from Spectrum User Fees (SUF). For 2027, NTC targeted P7.3 billion in revenue, including P5.15 billion from SUF.\r\n\r\nNTC collections are remitted directly to the National Treasury; SUF collections are earmarked for the DICT Free Wi-Fi program and e-government implementation.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-002222", "start_seconds": 6070.36, "clock": "01:41:10", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002222" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002225", "start_seconds": 6076.26, "clock": "01:41:16", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002225" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002227", "start_seconds": 6080.98, "clock": "01:41:20", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002227" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002234", "start_seconds": 6094.28, "clock": "01:41:34", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002234" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002235", "start_seconds": 6096.36, "clock": "01:41:36", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002235" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002237", "start_seconds": 6100.0, "clock": "01:41:40", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002237" } ] } ] }, { "key": "agency-dict-presentation-video", "label": "DICT presentation video", "items": [ { "label": "Connectivity and access to public services", "text": "The video said that much of everyday life now happens online, leaving people without internet at risk of being left behind. A testimonial described free Wi-Fi as rare and said residents relied on mobile data. Other parts of the clip described people climbing a mountain to connect, long queues before digital systems, and the expense of separate hardware investments without centralized agency services.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000027", "start_seconds": 662.7, "clock": "00:11:02", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000027" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000037", "start_seconds": 695.88, "clock": "00:11:35", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000037" } ] }, { "label": "Bayanihan SIM and digital participation", "text": "After several weeks of using the DICT Bayanihan SIM, one testimonial said it had changed teaching: discussions became more engaging and students participated more actively. The video added that shared services provide value beyond subscription-based infrastructure by helping agencies with limited resources and staff take part in digital transformation.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000052", "start_seconds": 725.88, "clock": "00:12:05", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000052" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000059", "start_seconds": 739.88, "clock": "00:12:19", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000059" } ] }, { "label": "Faster service and emergency communications", "text": "The video linked faster systems to convenience for businesses, quicker government service, and faster help from citizens. It also said communications equipment can help people communicate in a crisis, when responders must determine where to send help, who needs it, and how to reach them. A testimonial called the project a major help and hoped it would expand, with connectivity continuing to improve in farther barangays where signal is limited; another described it as a potential factor in saving and changing lives.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000066", "start_seconds": 753.88, "clock": "00:12:33", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000066" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000073", "start_seconds": 767.88, "clock": "00:12:47", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000073" } ] } ] }, { "key": "agency-ict-literacy-and-skills", "label": "ICT literacy and skills", "items": [ { "label": "Digital skills and employment pathways", "text": "DICT ICT Literacy and Competency Development Bureau Director Jennalyn G. Raviz presented the digital-skills programs. The program reached 304,241 Filipinos through digital-skills activities in 2025, operated 49 DICT-owned Digital Transformation Centers and helped form 35 local freelancer organizations under SPARK. For 2026, it set a target of 509,898 participants; as of August, 228,153 had participated. All 70 targeted DICT-owned centers were operational, and 140 partner-owned Tech4Ed centers had training support against a target of 1,225. The Digital Workforce Hub registered 1,507 unique learners, and 35 local freelancer organizations had been formed.\n\nThe ICT Industry Development Program connected the skills pipeline to economic opportunities. It had provided opportunities to 28,134 Filipinos, maintained 213 public- and private-sector partnerships, and supported 274 ICT-industry initiatives. In 2026, as of August, 94,778 Filipinos had received opportunities; the program maintained 213 partnerships and delivered 177 support initiatives.\n\nRaviz described the direction as moving from one-time learning toward a continuing digital-workforce ecosystem, connecting learning and community access with economic opportunities. She said the digital-first economy required both a stronger pool of Filipino digital talent and an ecosystem able to absorb, employ, and grow that talent.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000118", "start_seconds": 875.88, "clock": "00:14:35", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000118" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000148", "start_seconds": 979.62, "clock": "00:16:19", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000148" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000144", "start_seconds": 961.06, "clock": "00:16:01", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000144" } ] } ] }, { "key": "agency-digital-infrastructure", "label": "Digital infrastructure", "items": [ { "label": "NBP and GovNet results and service targets", "text": "In 2025, DICT laid 3,026 kilometers of fiber, activated 59 nodes, and connected 1,686 government agencies; the NBP and GovNet infrastructure served an estimated 26.47 million members of the transacting public. For 2027, the backbone was expected to serve 2,368 agencies or facilities, with 1,081 GovNet agencies and facilities maintained.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000210", "start_seconds": 1263.3600000000001, "clock": "00:21:03", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000210" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000216", "start_seconds": 1318.3400000000001, "clock": "00:21:58", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000216" } ] }, { "label": "PDIP implementation and connectivity milestones", "text": "Jimenez said Phases 1–3 still left connectivity gaps, which the PDIP is intended to complement. It is designed to strengthen inter-island and regional connectivity across two regions and 10 provinces, establish six island gateways, and extend last-mile connectivity to 10,259 schools, hospitals, government offices, and other public services. Implementation was in progress. She hoped that by the end of 2026 the project would move to obligations for Phases 4 and 5 and the middle mile. National fiber-backbone nodes were planned for 2027 and 2028, with middle-mile terrestrial-backbone work in 2027.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000220", "start_seconds": 1348.3400000000001, "clock": "00:22:28", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000220" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000227", "start_seconds": 1380.6, "clock": "00:23:00", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000227" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000228", "start_seconds": 1408.18, "clock": "00:23:28", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000228" } ] } ] }, { "key": "agency-free-public-internet-access", "label": "Free public internet access", "items": [ { "label": "Free internet reach and service targets", "text": "The Free Public Internet Access Program turns national connectivity into direct community access. In 2025, it served 9.7 million Filipinos through 9,567 access points in 5,057 locations across 943 cities and municipalities. As of August 31, 2026, it had reached 11.7 million beneficiaries against a 15.8 million target, with 33,263 access points across 12,939 locations in 1,441 cities and municipalities. Connectivity for targeted Department of Education (DepEd) schools was reported at 99.34% as of August.\n\nFor FY2027, its scale targets were 15.8 million beneficiaries, 42,489 access points in 16,167 locations, serving 1,634 localities.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000323", "start_seconds": 1581.38, "clock": "00:26:21", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000323" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000333", "start_seconds": 1601.5, "clock": "00:26:41", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000333" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000347", "start_seconds": 1628.8400000000001, "clock": "00:27:08", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000347" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000350", "start_seconds": 1634.92, "clock": "00:27:14", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000350" } ] } ] }, { "key": "agency-bayanihan-sim", "label": "Bayanihan SIM", "items": [ { "label": "Bayanihan SIM delivery and reach", "text": "Jimenez said 989,680 SIMs had been produced and delivered to regional offices, and 879,559 had been distributed as of August 2026. The project covered 2,668 of 2,815 underserved and unserved DepEd schools, as well as 1,919 barangays across 394 municipalities in 76 provinces.\n\nThe proposed 2027 funding would sustain service for about 1 million existing beneficiaries for another 12 months and expand mobile access to 1.8 million students across state universities and colleges, bringing the combined project target to 2,810,864 mobile-data beneficiaries.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000444", "start_seconds": 1860.52, "clock": "00:31:00", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000444" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000449", "start_seconds": 1871.56, "clock": "00:31:11", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000449" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000453", "start_seconds": 1879.92, "clock": "00:31:19", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000453" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000459", "start_seconds": 1891.82, "clock": "00:31:31", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000459" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000485", "start_seconds": 1932.84, "clock": "00:32:12", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000485" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000495", "start_seconds": 1942.62, "clock": "00:32:22", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000495" } ] } ] }, { "key": "agency-disaster-connectivity", "label": "Disaster connectivity", "items": [ { "label": "Emergency connectivity results and targets", "text": "The system is intended to keep government connectivity available during disasters and emergencies. In 2025, DICT deployed 76 LEO satellite sets, operated 10 MOVE vehicles, served about 750,000 MOVE beneficiaries, and established 97 emergency communication sites. For 2026, the program targeted 93 LEO sets, 13 MOVE sets, 1.2 million beneficiaries, one early warning broadcast system, and 20 network-in-a-box units. As of August 31, 76 satellite sets and 10 MOVE sets had been deployed and beneficiaries reached 1.26 million, exceeding the annual target; all 20 network-in-a-box units had been delivered, while the early warning broadcast system remained under procurement.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000505", "start_seconds": 1968.94, "clock": "00:32:48", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000505" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000510", "start_seconds": 2005.5, "clock": "00:33:25", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000510" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000513", "start_seconds": 2023.16, "clock": "00:33:43", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000513" } ] } ] }, { "key": "agency-cybersecurity", "label": "Cybersecurity", "items": [ { "label": "Cyber incident monitoring and response", "text": "Aniban described the National Computer Emergency Response Team and National Security Operations Center as addressing threats that grow with government digitization. In 2025, the program assessed 3,251 government systems and assisted 924 government institutions and critical-information-infrastructure entities. Incident response monitored threats affecting 1,828 national government agencies, issued 282 cyber-threat advisories and feeds, and connected 30 agencies to the National Security Operations Center. By August 2026, vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, and source-code analysis had covered 3,850 systems against a 3,000-system target; threat monitoring reached 829 agencies against a target of 350.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000581", "start_seconds": 2155.74, "clock": "00:35:55", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000581" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000594", "start_seconds": 2182.2, "clock": "00:36:22", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000594" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000599", "start_seconds": 2191.08, "clock": "00:36:31", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000599" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000605", "start_seconds": 2202.9, "clock": "00:36:42", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000605" } ] }, { "label": "Prevention and institutional readiness", "text": "Aniban said cybersecurity work must extend beyond incident response to prevention standards and institutional readiness. The program assesses agencies through PRISM, accredits trusted assessment providers, establishes government computer emergency-response teams, and develops policies and standards. As of 2026, 50 agencies had completed PRISM assessments, 32 providers were accredited against a target of 43, and 15 government CERTs had been established against a target of 30. For FY 2027, he described scaling assistance to 200 agencies and reaching 43 accredited providers, along with the 30-CERT target. He also identified cybersecurity professionals, institutional curricula, and policy work as program targets, with a shift toward preparedness and resilience.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000650", "start_seconds": 2292.16, "clock": "00:38:12", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000650" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000654", "start_seconds": 2305.84, "clock": "00:38:25", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000654" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000657", "start_seconds": 2317.96, "clock": "00:38:37", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000657" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000668", "start_seconds": 2348.24, "clock": "00:39:08", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000668" } ] } ] }, { "key": "agency-policy-and-workforce-development", "label": "Policy and workforce development", "items": [ { "label": "Digital roadmaps and connectivity reforms", "text": "Sison said DICT had issued the National Digital Connectivity Plan, a roadmap for affordable, reliable, secure, and resilient connectivity; the National ICT Development Agenda, which sets strategic direction for ICT development; and the e-Government Master Plan for integrated, citizen-centered digital governance.\n\nShe also described the Philippine AI Infrastructure Master Plan (PAIM), which had been launched the previous week and signed by the President. It is intended to prepare the country for the infrastructure, computing capacity, data centers, connectivity, energy, talent, and investment needed for an AI-driven economy. She said the plan would support international talks and negotiations.\n\nSison said DICT had already issued an amended Common Tower Policy under the Konektadong Pinoy Act to promote infrastructure sharing and reduce unnecessary duplication. She said three further policies were scheduled for issuance that year: a Dig Once Policy to coordinate digital infrastructure installation with roads and public works; an Access Policy to identify critical facilities and services that qualified providers could use when needed to deliver connectivity; and a Spectrum Management Policy Framework to strengthen allocation and use of spectrum as a finite national resource. These reforms were intended to make deployment faster, sharing more efficient, competition stronger, and connectivity more available.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001017", "start_seconds": 3244.9, "clock": "00:54:04", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001017" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001033", "start_seconds": 3276.9, "clock": "00:54:36", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001033" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001057", "start_seconds": 3324.9, "clock": "00:55:24", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001057" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001065", "start_seconds": 3340.9, "clock": "00:55:40", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001065" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001082", "start_seconds": 3374.9, "clock": "00:56:14", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001082" } ] }, { "label": "EO 119 data rules and consultations still underway", "text": "Sison said Executive Order 119, issued by the Office of the President, establishes a risk-based framework for data classification and residency, including how government data are classified, protected, stored, and managed. She said DICT and the National Security Council would convene the first joint oversight committee for the data-classification policy in the first week of October. The stated goal was to accelerate consultations and issue implementing guidelines. DICT was also engaging industry stakeholders on how EO 119 applies to them and how government data should be handled at interfaces with the private sector.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001096", "start_seconds": 3404.9, "clock": "00:56:44", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001096" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001109", "start_seconds": 3430.9, "clock": "00:57:10", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001109" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001114", "start_seconds": 3440.9, "clock": "00:57:20", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001114" } ] }, { "label": "Ethical AI policy and civil-service guidance", "text": "Sison said the ethical-use-of-AI policy would apply to all government agencies. She reported that DICT and civil service partners had met the previous week for a three-day intensive in Clark to discuss agencies' issues, concerns, and pain points. Through the joint memorandum circular, DICT was guiding agencies, especially the civil service, as they worked to keep up with AI developments.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001133", "start_seconds": 3478.9, "clock": "00:57:58", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001133" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001140", "start_seconds": 3492.9, "clock": "00:58:12", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001140" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001149", "start_seconds": 3510.9, "clock": "00:58:30", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001149" } ] } ] }, { "key": "agency-digital-government", "label": "Digital government", "items": [ { "label": "Integrated government platforms and projected savings", "text": "Almirol said DICT had built 30 digital platforms and connected 1,700 systems through a data-exchange platform intended to reduce duplication and optimize systems and cloud subscriptions. The eGov app had more than 60 million users and linked to the digital national ID, which had reached 92 million. A feasibility study estimated that removing duplication across ICT projects could save at least 30%.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001196", "start_seconds": 3628.46, "clock": "01:00:28", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001196" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001201", "start_seconds": 3658.46, "clock": "01:00:58", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001201" } ] }, { "label": "Digital public services and adoption targets", "text": "As of August 2026, eGov had 65 million downloads and 60 million unique users; about 92 million digital IDs had been issued against 95 million captured citizens. The eMessage service had used more than 1.1 billion of 1.4 billion credits. The e-LGU system automated permits, civil-registry documents, and other clearances and was adopted by more than 70% of 1,600 LGUs. For 2027, DICT targeted more than 80 million app users, 95 million digital IDs, 1,200 LGUs on e-LGU, 32 hosted government platforms, and 175,000 serbisyo hub clients. Almirol said banks, e-wallets, and government agencies were using digital ID to help avoid fraud and fake identities.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001205", "start_seconds": 3690.94, "clock": "01:01:30", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001205" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001210", "start_seconds": 3730.9, "clock": "01:02:10", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001210" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001222", "start_seconds": 3788.28, "clock": "01:03:08", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001222" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001232", "start_seconds": 3837.84, "clock": "01:03:57", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001232" } ] }, { "label": "Physical service centers and regional reach", "text": "The Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Center had served about 101,000 clients and was described as the physical counterpart to the eGov online one-stop shop. DICT had two branches, in Cebu and San Juan, and planned to extend the centers through its regional offices.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001214", "start_seconds": 3751.74, "clock": "01:02:31", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001214" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001218", "start_seconds": 3770.94, "clock": "01:02:50", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001218" } ] }, { "label": "National Government Data Center operations, utilization, and Subic migration", "text": "For 2025, the National Government Data Center reported protecting 738 domains through anti-DDoS and content delivery network (CDN) services, supporting nearly 300 system units, hosting 37 agencies, and providing collocation to 18 agencies. Almirol said DICT pays for its own and other agencies’ digital-service subscriptions.\n\nAs of August 2026, he reported all shown operational targets achieved: 100% of cloud-hosted agencies protected, 513 system units hosted, 74 data-center racks in use, and 45 unique agencies hosted in cloud services. The first DICT data center in Subic had been established that year for migration services. For FY2027, the data center targets included 100% anti-DDoS protection, 3,848 hosted system units, 90 racks, 95 agencies in cloud services, and 20 collocated government services. Almirol said using the Subic center could allow migration of about 20% of cloud services and reduce costs.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001235", "start_seconds": 3856.0, "clock": "01:04:16", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001235" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001263", "start_seconds": 3917.92, "clock": "01:05:17", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001263" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001282", "start_seconds": 3955.54, "clock": "01:05:55", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001282" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001296", "start_seconds": 3983.28, "clock": "01:06:23", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001296" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001315", "start_seconds": 4021.6, "clock": "01:07:01", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001315" } ] } ] }, { "key": "agency-government-systems", "label": "Government systems", "items": [ { "label": "Service delivery and readiness to date", "text": "In 2025, the service maintained 59,660 GovMail accounts for 412 agencies or domains, monitored 1,343 completed GovNet sites, supported eight co-located government agencies and projects, and maintained standby emergency-response funds in 16 regions. As of August 20, 2026, seven co-located agencies and projects were maintained at 99.98% uptime; 1,774 of 2,089 targeted completed GovNet sites had been monitored, and all 17 regions had a standby emergency-response fund.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001465", "start_seconds": 4368.84, "clock": "01:12:48", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001465" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001478", "start_seconds": 4395.16, "clock": "01:13:15", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001478" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001484", "start_seconds": 4407.1, "clock": "01:13:27", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001484" } ] } ] }, { "key": "agency-cicc-mandate", "label": "CICC mandate", "items": [ { "label": "CICC mandate", "text": "CICC Deputy Executive Director Atty. Alvin Miro Navarro introduced the Cybercrime Complaint Center, Threat Monitoring Center, and Cybercrime Response Center as the centre's three flagship projects.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001579", "start_seconds": 4634.34, "clock": "01:17:14", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001579" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001583", "start_seconds": 4643.0, "clock": "01:17:23", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001583" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001586", "start_seconds": 4649.8, "clock": "01:17:29", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001586" } ] } ] }, { "key": "agency-privacy-regulation", "label": "Privacy regulation", "items": [ { "label": "School privacy education, DPO training, and online-lending advisory", "text": "The Kabataang Digital Program visits schools nationwide to give students across grade levels seminars on their rights as data subjects and practical ways to protect themselves online. The NPC's data-privacy competency program provides seminars for privacy practitioners and data protection officers in government and the private sector. Barcena also described a joint advisory with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and DICT concerning online-lending platforms to explain borrowers' rights and the platforms' obligations in handling online applications; these programs were to continue in 2027.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001905", "start_seconds": 5314.62, "clock": "01:28:34", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001905" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001918", "start_seconds": 5339.04, "clock": "01:28:59", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001918" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001930", "start_seconds": 5363.08, "clock": "01:29:23", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001930" } ] }, { "label": "Breach response and public-service improvements", "text": "The NPC said entities experiencing data breaches are expected to notify it within 72 hours of discovery. The agency also works to identify breaches before they are reported. The 2027 priorities included expanding the Enhanced Security Response and Investigation Task Force project and monitoring more dark websites for chatter or information about data breaches, alongside expanding proactive detection.\n\nBarcena said the NPC planned to use AI in its complaints-management system and develop a chatbot in 2027. It was intended to let people nationwide receive real-time responses to queries now handled through email, telephone, or in-person visits. The NPC planned to enhance its data management and process analytics digital platform (DAMPA), particularly its registration component, before expanding registration to more entities. The system could then process about 1,000 applications at a time; the planned enhancement was expected to shorten average processing from seven days to three.\n\nThe NPC planned to expand participation in Privacy Awareness Week, held at the end of May, with a forum for local and regional participants to discuss current and emerging privacy issues. It also planned an expanded national data-privacy survey. A similar 2021 survey found 25% awareness nationwide; the new survey was intended to measure change and inform future policy.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001949", "start_seconds": 5400.0, "clock": "01:30:00", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001949" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001956", "start_seconds": 5449.8, "clock": "01:30:49", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001956" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001965", "start_seconds": 5490.0, "clock": "01:31:30", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001965" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001971", "start_seconds": 5517.32, "clock": "01:31:57", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001971" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001981", "start_seconds": 5557.98, "clock": "01:32:37", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001981" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001985", "start_seconds": 5577.36, "clock": "01:32:57", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001985" } ] } ] }, { "key": "agency-telecommunications-regulation", "label": "Telecommunications regulation", "items": [ { "label": "Rules, site blocking, licensing, and public outreach", "text": "NTC described rules covering internet traffic and ISP reporting, device forfeiture, analog-TV switch-off in Metro Manila, and frequency allocations. By August 2026, it had issued rules for the Konektadong Pinoy Act, spectrum-fee harmonization, cable-TV head-end sharing, broadcast power, and short-range-device frequencies; pending rules addressed unauthorized bandwidth sales and limits on IDs for SIM registration. NTC reported 33,049 harmful websites blocked under 2025 memoranda. It also reported further site-blocking directives in 2026.\r\n\r\nThrough NTC on Wheels, regional offices brought licensing and registration to local communities: 124 mobile licensing activities issued 9,733 permits and licenses in 2025. Regional offices also conducted 457 information drives against emerging scams that year and 337 by August 2026.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-002051", "start_seconds": 5728.64, "clock": "01:35:28", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002051" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002079", "start_seconds": 5784.14, "clock": "01:36:24", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002079" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002122", "start_seconds": 5868.22, "clock": "01:37:48", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002122" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002145", "start_seconds": 5912.7, "clock": "01:38:32", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002145" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002164", "start_seconds": 5951.78, "clock": "01:39:11", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002164" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002168", "start_seconds": 5959.66, "clock": "01:39:19", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002168" } ] }, { "label": "Consumer complaints and public assistance", "text": "NTC handled more than 15,000 tech-scam and spam complaints, nearly 60,000 telecommunications complaints, and over 20,000 reports of lost or stolen mobile devices in 2025. As of August 2026, it had acted on 6,934 scam and spam complaints and 41,167 telecommunications complaints, and received over 12,000 reports involving lost or stolen devices. Its hotline handled 19,799 calls, including Facebook-chat interactions.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-002175", "start_seconds": 5973.6, "clock": "01:39:33", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002175" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002189", "start_seconds": 6003.08, "clock": "01:40:03", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002189" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002193", "start_seconds": 6011.54, "clock": "01:40:11", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002193" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002197", "start_seconds": 6019.5, "clock": "01:40:19", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002197" } ] } ] }, { "key": "opening-opening-priorities", "label": "Opening priorities", "items": [ { "label": "Digital safety and public priorities", "text": "Cayetano opened the fiscal year 2027 NEP hearing for the DICT and its attached agencies by asking whether their proposed budgets would provide sufficient resources and capacity to address cybersecurity, data privacy, online scams and crime, and online harms to children and other vulnerable people. She also called for safeguards against artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled deepfakes, disinformation, fraud, and exploitation, and connected digital access and technology spending to public safety, education, health, economic opportunity, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Cayetano asked for interactive presentations and discussion.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000013", "start_seconds": 360.0, "clock": "00:06:00", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000013" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000017", "start_seconds": 480.0, "clock": "00:08:00", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000017" } ] } ] }, { "key": "senator-pia-s-cayetano", "label": "Senator Pia S. Cayetano", "items": [ { "label": "Access to tools after digital skills training", "text": "Cayetano welcomed DICT's effort to build Filipinos’ capacity but asked what tools trainees would have afterward, noting that greater knowledge would not ensure access to computers. She questioned whether digital transformation centers were within walking distance or located in the trainees’ barangays, and requested a map showing who could access them.\n\nRaviz said DICT has digital transformation centers in the regions, strategically placed for public access. Their contents vary by level, but they provide computers for public use and internet access. Cayetano parked the issue for further discussion, said access remained a concern, and reiterated her request for mapping.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000184", "start_seconds": 1138.34, "clock": "00:18:58", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000184" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000193", "start_seconds": 1192.54, "clock": "00:19:52", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000193" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000199", "start_seconds": 1224.16, "clock": "00:20:24", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000199" } ] }, { "label": "Public Wi-Fi for education, health, work and family contact", "text": "Cayetano put on the record that DICT had clarified that free Wi-Fi coverage included state universities and hospitals, which were missing from the earlier enumeration. She connected the program to education and health, arguing that Wi-Fi could help bring quality education to far-flung areas by allowing professors with PhDs from premium universities to lecture at small colleges, and could similarly support doctors.\n\nCayetano said Wi-Fi also supports work: she described working remotely with her team and holding discussions online. She noted that while people use Wi-Fi for leisure, public access serves a broader purpose than social media or casual conversation. It can help children stay connected with a mother or father working overseas, including a parent away for a year or two. She voiced support for that kind of connectivity and asked that its purpose be recorded.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000365", "start_seconds": 1677.28, "clock": "00:27:57", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000365" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000373", "start_seconds": 1716.54, "clock": "00:28:36", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000373" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000404", "start_seconds": 1780.1599999999999, "clock": "00:29:40", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000404" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000382", "start_seconds": 1734.38, "clock": "00:28:54", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000382" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000421", "start_seconds": 1814.06, "clock": "00:30:14", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000421" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000425", "start_seconds": 1822.04, "clock": "00:30:22", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000425" } ] }, { "label": "Emergency equipment deployment and location tracking", "text": "Cayetano asked where the LEO satellite sets were deployed and whether they were targeted to areas with more disasters. Guingcangco said the sets were loaded in vehicles and were currently targeted at geographically disaster-prone areas.\n\nAsked where the MOVE sets were parked, Guingcangco said they were at DICT regional offices. He described a plan to extend coverage to all regions.\n\nOn Cayetano's follow-up about real-time location checks, Guingcangco said the locations could be checked on DICT's website and that all trackers were there.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000519", "start_seconds": 2055.92, "clock": "00:34:15", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000519" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000543", "start_seconds": 2079.02, "clock": "00:34:39", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000543" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000549", "start_seconds": 2090.38, "clock": "00:34:50", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000549" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000561", "start_seconds": 2113.2799999999997, "clock": "00:35:13", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000561" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000563", "start_seconds": 2117.38, "clock": "00:35:17", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000563" } ] }, { "label": "Cyber threats and government protection", "text": "Cayetano asked how cyber threats to government agencies had changed and what attackers sought. Aniban said 90 agencies connected to the national security operation centers were protected against advanced persistent threat or possible state-sponsored attacks; DICT was working to extend coverage to at least half of its 340-agency target. He described threats from criminal enterprises and state-sponsored actors as affecting countries across the region, including the Philippines.\n\nAniban distinguished local hacktivists, who attack institutions such as schools and recruit young people interested in cybersecurity, from financially motivated actors seeking to exfiltrate data and sell it on the dark web.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000683", "start_seconds": 2389.36, "clock": "00:39:49", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000683" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000695", "start_seconds": 2431.0, "clock": "00:40:31", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000695" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000734", "start_seconds": 2623.2799999999997, "clock": "00:43:43", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000734" } ] }, { "label": "Youth cybersecurity education and workforce preparation", "text": "Cayetano said cybersecurity education should address basic computer and digital skills and protection of personal, government, and private data. She questioned whether mandatory ROTC, as previously presented, prepared students for changing cyber threats, and urged experts to engage young people positively and teach responsible use of digital tools. She emphasized age-appropriate involvement by the DepEd, rather than treating cybersecurity as a college-only subject.\n\nAniban cited annual hack competitions to educate graduating students and encourage cybersecurity careers. He said DICT was working with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on college curriculum and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) on micro-credentials.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000751", "start_seconds": 2705.36, "clock": "00:45:05", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000751" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000816", "start_seconds": 2838.72, "clock": "00:47:18", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000816" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000834", "start_seconds": 2876.96, "clock": "00:47:56", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000834" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000875", "start_seconds": 2956.58, "clock": "00:49:16", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000875" } ] }, { "label": "PNPKI services, results, and targets", "text": "After resuming the presentation, Aniban described PNPKI as supporting trusted government transactions through digital identity, authentication, and digital signatures that allow documents and transactions to be verified. In 2025, it had about 856,540 registered subscribers, provided 11,847 technical-support interventions, and conducted about 1,236 awareness campaigns and trainings. By August 2026, subscribers had reached about 899,000 against a 900,000 target, while 613 awareness campaigns and trainings had exceeded the annual target of 500. For 2027, DICT set targets of 1 million subscribers, 15,000 technical-support interventions, 600 awareness activities, and training for 16 registration authorities.\n\nAniban said DICT aimed to prepare PNPKI for post-quantum cryptography and was cooperating with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on digital-certificate requirements for election-related signing.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000882", "start_seconds": 2980.46, "clock": "00:49:40", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000882" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000901", "start_seconds": 3016.54, "clock": "00:50:16", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000901" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000914", "start_seconds": 3040.88, "clock": "00:50:40", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000914" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000920", "start_seconds": 3052.98, "clock": "00:50:52", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000920" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000935", "start_seconds": 3081.04, "clock": "00:51:21", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000935" } ] }, { "label": "CHED coordination, digital skills, and job mismatch", "text": "Cayetano urged DICT to coordinate with CHED on demand for trained professionals across its programs, make courses attractive to young people, and prioritize existing courses such as AI. She said digital skills could open work opportunities, including remote jobs for other countries that allow people to work from the Philippines, and asked the agencies to address persistent job mismatch through further CHED discussions.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-000946", "start_seconds": 3102.4, "clock": "00:51:42", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000946" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000974", "start_seconds": 3159.36, "clock": "00:52:39", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000974" }, { "stable_id": "asr-000987", "start_seconds": 3183.9, "clock": "00:53:03", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-000987" } ] }, { "label": "Ethical AI use in the civil service", "text": "Cayetano said civil servants should learn to use AI ethically. She welcomed the work with the civil service, noting that responsible use could save time while irresponsible use could create problems.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001157", "start_seconds": 3526.9, "clock": "00:58:46", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001157" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001164", "start_seconds": 3540.9, "clock": "00:59:00", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001164" } ] }, { "label": "Platform security, continuity and co-development", "text": "Cayetano recalled the 2027 goal of transferring 20% of e-government data to the Department of Information and Communications Technology's (DICT's) own data center. Almirol said DICT had 30 digital platforms and that the 20% applied to those platforms. Cayetano confirmed with him that the e-government app had been built entirely in-house.\n\nShe raised the challenge of sustaining the app and its hosting as technology and cybersecurity needs change, noting that government may not match private-sector pay for developers and cybersecurity experts. She also said the platforms held private data in a foreign-hosted, managed data center. Almirol confirmed the providers were globally recognized and had a security track record; Cayetano said she remained concerned about sustaining security if data moved to DICT's own systems.\n\nAlmirol said the e-government law aims to establish world-class localization zones. DICT was encouraging foreign technology providers to establish such zones in the Philippines, including by building data centers locally. When Cayetano asked whether DICT remained open to working with established technology providers, Almirol said yes. He described the approach as co-development: providers would teach local teams, the process would take time, and DICT aimed to bring in the IT community and startups.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001329", "start_seconds": 4088.9, "clock": "01:08:08", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001329" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001341", "start_seconds": 4115.1, "clock": "01:08:35", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001341" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001377", "start_seconds": 4187.38, "clock": "01:09:47", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001377" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001395", "start_seconds": 4222.14, "clock": "01:10:22", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001395" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001414", "start_seconds": 4262.42, "clock": "01:11:02", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001414" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001436", "start_seconds": 4305.44, "clock": "01:11:45", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001436" } ] }, { "label": "FDA online application access and DICT support", "text": "Cayetano described lengthy maintenance notices that prevented online applications, identifying the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the case she was raising. She said the FDA had been unable to accept applications for a long time and planned to obtain a screenshot of the announcement for DICT.\n\nAlmirol said DICT platforms allowed weekend transactions, but confirmed DICT did not yet provide service to the FDA. He said DICT could entertain such requests next year under the new law, explaining that it lacked the budget for FDA assistance this year. Cayetano planned to send the screenshot for follow-up.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001512", "start_seconds": 4497.26, "clock": "01:14:57", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001512" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001550", "start_seconds": 4572.28, "clock": "01:16:12", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001550" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001569", "start_seconds": 4609.96, "clock": "01:16:49", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001569" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001575", "start_seconds": 4621.62, "clock": "01:17:01", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001575" } ] }, { "label": "Complaint access, routing, and case follow-through", "text": "Cayetano asked where people can report cybercrime. Navarro described a no-wrong-door policy: key agencies should receive complaints and route them by type—investment or online-lending fraud to the SEC, consumer fraud to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and general cybercrime to the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group and regional offices. The 24/7 Cybercrime Complaint Center (C3) accepts complaints by email, eGov, phone, social media, and messaging platforms.\n\nCICC was consolidating complaints with partner agencies to build a national picture. Navarro reported 20,457 complaints at hearing time, compared with 18,830 as of August 31, and said cybercrime was underreported. Its Cybercrime Response Center builds cases, contacts complainants for missing information, assists them, and refers developed complaints to law-enforcement agencies for validation and field action.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001592", "start_seconds": 4661.76, "clock": "01:17:41", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001592" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001609", "start_seconds": 4695.64, "clock": "01:18:15", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001609" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001625", "start_seconds": 4725.64, "clock": "01:18:45", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001625" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001673", "start_seconds": 4825.38, "clock": "01:20:25", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001673" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001720", "start_seconds": 4923.58, "clock": "01:22:03", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001720" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001730", "start_seconds": 4944.8, "clock": "01:22:24", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001730" } ] }, { "label": "Scams, exploitation, and illegal recruitment", "text": "Its Threat Monitoring Center conducts active monitoring without waiting for a complaint. CICC described active monitoring of online sexual abuse and exploitation of children (OSAEC) cases, social-media platforms, and illegal online recruitment. Navarro said cybercrime scams were not excluded from monitoring; he reported that scams made up 61% of CICC data, and cited job, romance, and other scam types. He said identifying the methods used was important to structure the operational response.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001766", "start_seconds": 5020.9, "clock": "01:23:40", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001766" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001776", "start_seconds": 5043.18, "clock": "01:24:03", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001776" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001793", "start_seconds": 5076.1, "clock": "01:24:36", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001793" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001818", "start_seconds": 5127.52, "clock": "01:25:27", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001818" } ] }, { "label": "Data sharing and gradual AI integration", "text": "Cayetano encouraged information sharing and AI-assisted review of the cybercrime landscape, including flags and duplicate complaints, while keeping human intervention for OSAEC cases and distributing referrals so agencies could manage their resources. Navarro said CICC was incorporating AI solutions into its processes, but implementation would not be immediate because it required resources; he described AI integration as standing policy, not a completed system.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001827", "start_seconds": 5146.4, "clock": "01:25:46", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001827" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001838", "start_seconds": 5171.06, "clock": "01:26:11", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001838" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001870", "start_seconds": 5235.28, "clock": "01:27:15", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001870" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001880", "start_seconds": 5254.7, "clock": "01:27:34", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001880" } ] }, { "label": "Aggregate privacy concerns and NPC guidance", "text": "Cayetano asked what common concerns accounted for the 70,000 privacy matters previously reported. Barcena clarified that the figure referred to aggregate privacy concerns, not a count of formal complaints. They ranged from personal data posted online to queries about remedies and whether conduct was a violation, as well as broader questions about breaches. The NPC provided information, based on its own issuances, about steps stakeholders could take in response to a breach.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-001989", "start_seconds": 5590.56, "clock": "01:33:10", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001989" }, { "stable_id": "asr-001992", "start_seconds": 5600.56, "clock": "01:33:20", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-001992" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002003", "start_seconds": 5621.2, "clock": "01:33:41", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002003" } ] }, { "label": "Online-lending collection practices and borrower guidance", "text": "Cayetano described borrowers being shamed on Facebook and lenders contacting people in a borrower's directory to disclose the debt, then asked what ordinary borrowers could do and how they could understand their rights. Barcena said the NPC had a joint advisory with the SEC and DICT that consolidated guidance on what online-lending platforms can and cannot do. The NPC also made social-media shorts to explain the guidance to the public. Cayetano said she would check the material.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-002393", "start_seconds": 6412.76, "clock": "01:46:52", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002393" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002418", "start_seconds": 6452.24, "clock": "01:47:32", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002418" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002450", "start_seconds": 6494.1, "clock": "01:48:14", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002450" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002473", "start_seconds": 6518.44, "clock": "01:48:38", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002473" } ] }, { "label": "Public-official privacy, journalism, and proportionality", "text": "Cayetano asked how privacy protections apply when public officials are covered in the news. Barcena said the Data Privacy Act provides exceptions for journalism and officials performing public functions, but those exceptions remain subject to proportionality. He said officials retain privacy in personal matters such as family life, while the public has a legitimate purpose in learning about official functions.\n\nDiscussing a public official photographed at a sports event and later covered in a sports page, Barcena distinguished taking a photograph from uploading it: each is a separate form of processing and needs a basis. He treated sports-page reporting as a journalistic exception. When Cayetano asked about publishing flight details, Barcena raised the purpose and proportionality of that disclosure and said it could be a subject of inquiry. Cayetano welcomed the standards and emphasized that facts must be assessed case by case.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-002502", "start_seconds": 6553.14, "clock": "01:49:13", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002502" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002517", "start_seconds": 6566.16, "clock": "01:49:26", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002517" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002539", "start_seconds": 6597.12, "clock": "01:49:57", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002539" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002644", "start_seconds": 6716.48, "clock": "01:51:56", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002644" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002662", "start_seconds": 6733.88, "clock": "01:52:13", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002662" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002674", "start_seconds": 6746.78, "clock": "01:52:26", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002674" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002711", "start_seconds": 6778.14, "clock": "01:52:58", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002711" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002720", "start_seconds": 6786.9400000000005, "clock": "01:53:06", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002720" } ] }, { "label": "Private-sector partnerships and cybersecurity training", "text": "Cayetano said well-chosen private-sector technical partners offered opportunities for growth, while DICT also needed to balance independence with learning from expertise it did not yet have. She asked Aguda to work with the CHED on courses that would prepare students, including criminology students at state universities and smaller colleges, for cybercrime and new technology. Aguda agreed.\n\nAguda said the number of registered cybersecurity professionals had been around 400–500 at the previous update and had since increased. He said DICT was pursuing a goal of registering 100,000 professionals, including people from criminology and information technology.", "citations": [ { "stable_id": "asr-002819", "start_seconds": 6906.4400000000005, "clock": "01:55:06", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002819" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002842", "start_seconds": 6941.54, "clock": "01:55:41", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002842" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002877", "start_seconds": 6983.06, "clock": "01:56:23", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002877" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002885", "start_seconds": 6989.54, "clock": "01:56:29", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002885" }, { "stable_id": "asr-002893", "start_seconds": 6997.84, "clock": "01:56:37", "transcript_url": "https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/53/#asr-002893" } ] } ] } ] }