Palace proclaims data privacy awareness week

MANILA, Philippines — On the day that 117 government websites were downed due to system failure, President Duterte signed a proclamation declaring every last week of May as National Data Privacy Awareness Week.

Malacañang yesterday released Presidential Proclamation 527 that promotes the importance of data privacy, data protection and fair information rights and responsibilities as part of reinforcing the efforts of the National Privacy Commission (NPC).

Signed last July 3, the proclamation invokes the constitutionally protected right to privacy of every individual, including the privacy of communication and correspondence.

“The State recognizes the vital role of information and communications technology in nation-building and its inherent obligation to ensure that personal information in information and communications systems in the government and in the private sector are secure and protected,” the proclamation read.

The NPC is tasked with the primary duty of protecting personal data and ensuring the Philippines’ compliance with international standards for data protection.

Under the proclamation, the NPC shall lead the celebration, and all departments, bureau and agencies of the national government are directed to participate in the activities of the National Data Privacy Awareness Week. 

Local government units and the private sector are likewise encouraged to participate in the activities.

The proclamation was signed when 117 government websites were not accessible when one of the Government Web Hosting Service storage systems suffered a hardware failure. 

Among those affected by the system failure were the Office of the President, Presidential Communications Operations Office and Official Gazette.

Also affected were the websites of the departments of information and communications technology, agrarian reform, education, health, labor, science and technology, trade and industry, and transportation.

Other affected sites were those of the Land Transportation Office, National Economic and Development Authority, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Philippine National Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. 

The government websites have not been restored as of this writing.