DICT, South Korea launch $25.6 million cybersecurity project

MANILA, Philippines — A landmark project to establish the National Cybersecurity Center (NCC) has been launched by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and Korea International Cooperation Agency.

Funded by the KOICA, the $25.6-million initiative aims to reinforce the Philippines’ defensive posture against sophisticated global cyberthreats.

The NCC will serve as the country’s primary hub for threat intelligence, incident coordination and real-time network monitoring.

To guarantee operational continuity and long-term resilience, the project features a dual-facility architecture: a main headquarters at the DICT campus in Valenzuela City and a backup center in Ilocos Norte.

South Korean Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa underscored the project’s role as a cornerstone for safe technological growth.

“By strengthening the Philippines’ capacity for cyberthreat monitoring, incident response and coordinated defense, the NCC will provide an essential foundation for the country to reap the benefits of digital transformation while managing the risks that accompany it,” Lee said.

Beyond physical infrastructure, the project introduces a comprehensive national cybersecurity system to unify cyberthreat reporting and data sharing.

A specialized cybersecurity education curriculum and learning infrastructure will be developed.

This initiative builds upon the outcomes of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s state visit to the Philippines in March. Both nations vowed to expand strategic cooperation in digital innovation and emerging technologies.

Senior Philippine officials, representatives from KOICA, the South Korean embassy and local government leaders attended the groundbreaking ceremony recently.