Data protection, privacy pushed

DATA protection and enforcement of data privacy safeguards in Davao Region’s local government units (LGUs) daily operations are being pushed by the National Privacy Commission (NPC) during the LGU Data Protection Officers’ Assembly last Monday, December 18 at Marco Polo Hotel.

In a press release by the NPC through the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Davao Region, it was stated how the systematic compliance with Data Privacy Act of 2012 will foster greater trust between the LGUs, the business sector, and the general public.

The Republic Act of 10173 or the Data Privacy Act is an act “protecting individual personal information in information and communications systems in the government and the private sector.”

It is a protection against unauthorized processing of personal information that is not publicly available and information on whose identity of the individual is traceable and/or apparent on the file.

“If LGUs in the region would rigorously enforce data privacy safeguards in their daily operations, not only will it usher in better local government admin-

istration and enhanced social services. It will also redound to improved business practices and usher in the region’s readiness to absorb the economic benefits of the emerging knowledge economy,” said Privacy Commissioner and Chairman Raymund Enriquez Liboro.

As for her part, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio released a statement hoping that the campaign for data privacy protection would promote national security aside from innovation and growth.

“Local governments are entrusted with millions of personal data information, and so we have to ensure that we have written data privacy policies governing personal information controllers on what to do and how to secure the data that is entrusted to them. At the same time, it is also vital that clients are made aware of their rights and responsibilities over the information they release,” read the mayor’s statement.

The forum was attended by LGU officials from Compostela Valley, Sarangani, San Isidro, Davao City, and Tagum City.

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