PROTECTA Pilipinas Pushes for Volunteer Cyber and Infrastructure Defense Corps as Telecom Threats Rise

Negosentro Media | PROTECTA Pilipinas Pushes for Volunteer Cyber and Infrastructure Defense Corps as Telecom Threats Rise | Public-Private Alliance Seeks Citizen Participation to Strengthen Cybersecurity, Prevent Cable Theft, and Protect Critical Telecommunications Infrastructure

As cyber threats, digital scams, infrastructure vandalism, and telecommunications disruptions continue to challenge the Philippines, a growing coalition of government agencies, industry leaders, and cybersecurity advocates is proposing a new solution: mobilizing ordinary citizens to become part of the country’s cyber and infrastructure defense efforts.

The Protect Technology-Telecom Alliance Pilipinas (PROTECTA Pilipinas), a coalition spearheaded by telecommunications leader PLDT and Smart Communications, is actively exploring the creation of a nationwide volunteer corps focused on protecting critical telecommunications infrastructure and improving cyber resilience across communities.

The initiative was among the key topics discussed during the recent forum titled “Citizens on the Frontline: Mobilizing a Volunteer Corps to Strengthen Infrastructure Security and Cyber Resilience,” which brought together representatives from government, law enforcement, defense institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector.

The forum highlighted an increasingly urgent reality: the security of telecommunications networks and digital infrastructure can no longer be left solely to government agencies and private companies.

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Become National Concerns

Telecommunications networks serve as the backbone of the country’s digital economy, supporting everything from mobile communications and online banking to e-commerce, remote work, emergency response, and public services.

Yet these networks continue to face multiple threats.

Cable theft, telecom equipment vandalism, cyberattacks, phishing operations, and online scams have become recurring challenges affecting service reliability and public trust.

According to PLDT and Smart Communications, stronger coordination with local government units, law enforcement agencies, and community stakeholders has contributed to a decline in cable and telecommunications equipment theft in 2025. However, industry leaders warn that the threat remains significant and requires a more sustainable and community-based approach.

PROTECTA Pilipinas believes citizens themselves can play a vital role in safeguarding critical infrastructure.

A Volunteer Corps for Infrastructure Protection and Cyber Resilience

One of the alliance’s most ambitious proposals is the creation of a volunteer corps modeled in part after military reserve programs.

The envisioned program would train volunteers across the country to identify, monitor, and report potential threats to telecommunications infrastructure and digital systems.

PLDT Vice President for Regulatory Affairs Roy Ibay described the concept as a nationwide network of trained citizens capable of acting as an early warning system against infrastructure and cybersecurity threats.

“We envision a volunteer corps, men and women across this country who are trained to recognize threats to critical infrastructure, who know how to report and respond and who to serve as the eyes, the early warning system and the resilience backbone of a nation that refuses to be caught unprepared,” Ibay said.

Under the proposal, volunteers could help identify suspicious activities involving telecom facilities, cable theft operations, infrastructure sabotage, cybersecurity risks, and other emerging threats that may affect network reliability and public communications.

Building a National Framework

PROTECTA Pilipinas is currently working with key government institutions, including the Department of National Defense (DND), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), to explore how such a volunteer program could be structured and implemented.

Stakeholders acknowledge that creating a nationwide cyber and infrastructure volunteer corps would require clear policies, training standards, legal safeguards, and coordination mechanisms.

Former Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Gregorio Honasan emphasized the urgency of the initiative, noting that executive action could accelerate implementation.

“Any presidential decree, administrative order, issuance from the most powerful, if not one of the most powerful presidencies among the remaining presidential democracies, would to me be more expedient because we are managing time,” Honasan said.

Industry observers believe that formal government backing could help transform the concept from a private sector initiative into a long-term national resilience program.

AFP Cyber Units and Reserve Forces Could Play a Key Role

The Armed Forces of the Philippines also sees potential synergies between the proposed volunteer corps and the country’s existing reserve force structure.

Brig. Gen. Danilo Dupiag, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Reserve Force Development, noted that the military has already established cyber-focused units within its organization.

“There are now units in the table of organization of the Philippine Army and even the Philippine Air Force called cyber units. So meron tayong ganoon. Finifill-up natin yun kasi bago ang units na yun. So we need those experts in cybersecurity, cyber warfare,” Dupiag explained.

The AFP’s growing cyber capabilities reflect a broader recognition that future security challenges will increasingly involve digital infrastructure, cyber defense, and information security.

Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Joey Fontiveros, Commander of the AFP Cyber Command, suggested that legislation could provide continuity and long-term sustainability for the initiative regardless of future changes in government leadership.

Cybersecurity Education Starts Early

Beyond volunteer recruitment, stakeholders also stressed the importance of integrating cybersecurity awareness into educational curricula.

Fontiveros argued that cyber hygiene, digital responsibility, and cybersecurity fundamentals should be introduced at an early age to help prepare future generations for an increasingly connected world.

Experts note that many cyber incidents begin with human vulnerabilities rather than technological weaknesses, making education a critical component of national cyber resilience.

Learning from Global Models

The forum also examined international examples where civilian participation plays an active role in national resilience and cybersecurity strategies.

Countries such as Estonia, Finland, Singapore, Israel, and Ukraine have implemented various forms of citizen engagement, reserve programs, cybersecurity education initiatives, and volunteer networks to strengthen their ability to respond to digital and physical threats.

These models demonstrate that resilience is not solely dependent on technology investments but also on community preparedness and civic participation.

A Shared Responsibility

Citizen Watch representative Carlo Ople welcomed the discussions, emphasizing that cybersecurity must be viewed as a collective national responsibility rather than solely a government concern.

“Cybersecurity is now a shared national responsibility and building resilience will require not only technology, but also trust, also operation, a lot of understanding, a lot of political will, and a lot of investment in our people,” he said.

That sentiment was echoed throughout the forum, where participants repeatedly emphasized that safeguarding critical infrastructure requires cooperation among government agencies, private sector organizations, educational institutions, local communities, and individual citizens.

As the Philippines accelerates its digital transformation agenda, initiatives such as the proposed volunteer corps could become an important part of protecting telecommunications infrastructure, strengthening cyber resilience, and ensuring the reliability of the country’s increasingly interconnected digital economy.

Why This Matters

For businesses, investors, telecommunications providers, government agencies, and consumers alike, resilient telecommunications infrastructure is no longer merely a convenience—it is a national necessity.

The success of digital services, online commerce, financial technology platforms, public safety systems, and critical government operations increasingly depends on secure and reliable networks.

By encouraging citizen participation alongside government and industry collaboration, PROTECTA Pilipinas hopes to create a broader culture of vigilance, preparedness, and shared responsibility—one that can help safeguard the Philippines against both physical and digital threats in the years ahead.

via The Philippines Herald