The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) have broken ground for the National Cybersecurity Center (NCSC), a project intended to serve as the country’s main hub for cyber threat monitoring, intelligence sharing, and incident response.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 29 at the DICT compound in Valenzuela City.
Funded through a $25.6-million KOICA grant, the project includes the construction of the main facility in Valenzuela and a backup center in Ilocos Norte.
It will also cover the deployment of cybersecurity systems and training programs for government personnel and cybersecurity practitioners.
Present at the ceremony were DICT secretary Henry Aguda, South Korean ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-Hwa, KOICA vice president Lee Yun-Young, Valenzuela 2nd district representative Gerald Cloyd Alexis Galang, and Valenzuela mayor Weslie Gatchalian.
Aguda said the project forms part of the government’s push to strengthen cybersecurity as the country expands digital services.
“The dream of Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is for every Filipino to be connected and have access to digital opportunities. But beyond connectivity, we also want every Filipino to be secure. We don’t just want people connected, we want them protected,” Aguda said.
According to DICT, the NCSC will be designed to improve the country’s capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to cyber threats affecting government systems, businesses, and personal data.
KOICA said the initiative is its biggest cybersecurity project globally.
“This initiative is particularly significant, as it represents the largest KOICA-funded cybersecurity project globally and one of the largest KOICA grant projects currently being implemented in the Philippines,” Lee said.
Beyond the physical facilities, the project will also include technical training in the Philippines and South Korea, as well as the development of a cybersecurity education curriculum aimed at building a pipeline of local cybersecurity professionals.
Lee said the center is expected to support the Philippines’ broader digital transformation efforts by strengthening cyber threat monitoring, incident response, and coordinated defense capabilities.
For his part, Gatchalian said the project would turn an idle government property into a site for technology development and training.
The DICT said the initiative follows discussions between the Philippines and South Korea on expanding cooperation in digital innovation, emerging technologies, and cybersecurity.
