Digital disruption is no longer an abstract concept but a defining challenge that will determine whether the Philippines thrives or falls behind. This was the stark message delivered by Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda at the opening of the Pilipinas Conference 2025, hosted by the Stratbase Institute in partnership with the Embassy of Japan.
The high-level forum, held at The Peninsula Manila, convened diplomats, government officials, and cybersecurity leaders from across the Indo-Pacific to confront the region’s increasingly volatile digital landscape. With cyberattacks rising, digital competitiveness slipping, and misinformation accelerating, speakers underscored one urgent theme: the Philippines must act now.
Aguda, in a direct call for reform, warned that the country’s digital economy had shrunk to 8.4 percent of GDP in 2024 — a trend he described as unacceptable and dangerous. “Digital disruption is not a theory. It is a survival issue, hand in hand with cybersecurity,” he stressed. “This is not merely about percentages. It is about people.”
He outlined the government’s accelerated digital strategy, anchored on rapid infrastructure rollout, nationwide digital adoption, and stronger governance frameworks. But he made clear that government action alone will not be enough, urging private-sector leaders and industry players to push with equal force.
“We are aiming for hyper-exponential growth,” he said. “Some say it’s impossible. To them I say, watch us work.”
Stratbase Institute President Prof. Victor Andres Manhit echoed the urgency, noting that cyber threats now emerge from an environment that is “unseen, borderless, and asymmetrical.” Deepfakes, foreign information manipulation, and AI-driven attacks, he said, are blurring traditional security lines. “Cybersecurity is not only about technology; it is about trust. Cybersecurity is national security.”
He emphasized that securing the country’s digital domain requires a united effort across government, the private sector, and international partners.
Japan urges stronger cooperation as cyberattacks surge
Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya reinforced the call for collaboration, emphasizing that no country can secure cyberspace alone. He shared Japan’s own alarming data: cyberattack-related communications skyrocketed from 63 billion packets in 2015 to 686 billion in 2024.
“Cyberspace is an indispensable social infrastructure for all activities across the globe,” he said. “Threats are rapidly escalating.” He underlined that confidence-building between nations and public-private sectors is key to strengthening defenses.
Kazuya pointed to Japan’s long-standing support for ASEAN and the Philippines, noting that the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Center has already trained 4,400 cybersecurity professionals — with Filipinos among the most active participants. “Japan will continue to cooperate in enhancing the Philippines’ cybersecurity capabilities to advance the vision of a free, fair, and secure cyberspace for all,” he affirmed.
Regional partners call for deeper intelligence-sharing
The forum also featured a panel of regional diplomats, including Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown, Canadian Ambassador David Hartman, and European Union Ambassador Massimo Santoro. All three highlighted the growing complexity of cross-border cyber threats and emphasized the need for stronger intelligence-sharing systems, coordinated incident response, and more robust public-private partnerships.
From ransomware targeting essential services to state-sponsored cyber espionage, panelists warned that cyber risks are evolving faster than many national systems can adapt. Only coordinated action, they stressed, will allow countries to keep pace.
As Pilipinas Conference 2025 opened, one message rang clear: digital resilience can no longer wait. For the Philippines and the region, the battle for a secure and competitive digital future has already begun — and the stakes have never been higher.