EdAngara.com - The Official Website of Senator Edgardo J. Angara

Senator Edgardo J. Angara called for the swift enactment of two ICT-related measures for the protection of sensitive information and data found online, especially those of Filipino users.

Angara, Chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, filed and sponsored the Cybercrime Prevention Act (SBN 2796), which was recently approved by the Senate, and the Data Privacy Act (SBN 2965), which is still pending upon Second Reading.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara said that the creation of the proposed Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will be helpful in managing the country’s broadband network.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara called on the Aquino administration to roll out more initiatives in promoting science and innovation throughout the country as a means to spur national development.

Angara, Chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, made the statement as he cited results from a survey conducted by global powerhouse General Electric (GE) that showed 92 percent of respondents believe innovation is the main lever to create a more competitive economy.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara emphasized the importance of protecting the integrity and confidentiality of customer data in bolstering the country's Information Technology and Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) industry.

Angara, Chair of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology then called for the swift passage of a data privacy bill, noting projections that the Philippine IT-BPO industry could boost its revenues from $9 billion in 2011 to $25 billion by 2016.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara called for the swift enactment of a measure creating an independent government agency focused on the growth and development of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector in the country, despite the ongoing impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara emphasized the importance of collaboration and cooperation among stakeholders in combating cybercrimes.

In a TV interview, Angara underscored that because of the borderless nature of Internet-related crimes such as hacking, identity theft, online fraud and child pornography, anybody can be hit from anywhere in the world.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara emphasized that the anti-cybercrime bill is not a threat to basic freedoms and will, rather, protect them from abuse on cyberspace.

Voting 13-1, the Senate approved on Third Reading the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (Senate Bill No. 2796) which establishes a legal framework for the investigation, apprehension and prosecution of perpetrators of such Internet-related crimes as identity theft, fraud, hacking and child pornography.

Senator Edgardo J. Angara today urged participants of the "Boosting Filipinnovation: LEAP 2012 National Conference-Workshop on Technology Innovation, Quality and Productivity" to help in rebuilding science and technology (S&T) of the country.

"We used to be the teacher in all of Asia: we were teaching the Thais, the Malays, but what has happened to us? In 2009 alone, about 25,000 S&T workers left the country. We currently have only 165 R&D personnel per million Filipinos when UNESCO recommends at least 380."