Relative to the series of data turnover ceremonies recently commenced by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) together with concerned local government units (LGUs) involved in the pilot run of the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) in 2021, a training to safeguard the CBMS data was facilitated. On 02 May 2023, the Cybersecurity Risk Management Training was conducted by the Community-Based Statistics Service, in collaboration with the Data Protection and Security Unit (DPSU) of the Legal Service via videoconference.

Participants of the said training were LGU personnel from the city/municipal governments of San Gabriel (La Union), Sual (Pangasinan), Santa Maria (Isabela), Samal (Bataan), Baybay (Leyte), and Bayugan (Agusan del Sur). Also present in the activity were PSA officials and CBMS focal persons in the regional and provincial offices.

This capacity development initiative is part of the PSA’s commitment in ensuring that the obtained CBMS data from every household are properly handled and safeguarded. With the possible occurrence of cybersecurity threats which may compromise confidential information, equipping the LGU personnel with the right knowledge and skills to identify, assess, and mitigate such risk is important. Management on cybersecurity risks and organizational security measures served as primary topics of this half-day training.

Atty. Eliezer P. Ambatali, Director III and Data Protection Officer of the PSA, emphasized the need to have a technical know-how in warranting the protection of CBMS data in the local level. With its richness and usefulness, the CBMS data is a valuable input towards the intention of having more progressive and empowered communities throughout the country.

For more information and latest announcements on the CBMS, you may visit the PSA CBMS webpage at www.psa.gov.ph/cbms.

- Community-Based Statistics Service, Censuses and Technical Coordination Office