The Philippines and South Korea have signed an agreement to establish a National Cyber Security Center (NCSC), a project backed by a $25.6-million grant from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) announced.
The Records of Discussion for the project were signed on April 27, 2026 in Quezon City by DICT secretary Henry R. Aguda and South Korean ambassador Lee Sang-hwa, with officials from KOICA and both governments present.
The initiative, described as the largest KOICA-funded project in the Philippines to date, will run for five years and aims to strengthen the country’s cyber defense capabilities.
At the center of the program is the creation of the NCSC, which will serve as the government’s main hub for monitoring cyber threats, responding to incidents, and coordinating national cybersecurity efforts.
The project also includes measures to improve information security management across government systems and train cybersecurity professionals.
“Cybersecurity is no longer a technical concern alone. It is about protecting the daily lives of our citizens, their data, their transactions, and their confidence in the systems they rely on,” Aguda said.
He added: “What we are building is trust, trust between nations, and trust that our systems will serve and protect our people.”
Lee, for his part, said the partnership is expected to deliver long-term benefits.
“When a partnership begins well, it lays the foundation for a meaningful and successful outcome. We are confident that this initiative will deliver lasting benefits for the Filipino people,” he said.
