Overview: Why the DICT budget is back in the spotlight
The Philippines is lining up a sizable budget response to a sharp rise in cybercrime. FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-list Rep. Brian Poe, a vice chair of the Committee on Appropriations, argued during the marathon plenary debates on the P6.793‑trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2026 that the country needs a stronger digital defense. Citing a 200 percent jump in cybercrime numbers, Poe urged a targeted boost in the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s (DICT) security budget for next year.
He highlighted that cybercrime cases climbed from 3,317 in 2023 to 10,004 in 2024, with direct victim costs near ₱200 million and institutional damages reaching ₱5.82 billion. In this context, Poe framed the proposed increase as a necessity to safeguard citizens, businesses, and government networks from a growing threat vector that evolves with technology.
Budget break down: what the P1 billion increase funds
“We increased the national security budget of the DICT by P1 billion. And I will break that down for you,” Poe stated as the appropriation plan was laid out for 2026. The proposed allocations aim to expand both the DICT’s operations and its capability to detect, respond to, and deter cyber threats.
- P812 million for the National Security Operations Center (NSOC) to boost real-time monitoring and crisis response capabilities.
- P103.42 million for the Public Key Infrastructure (PNPKI) to strengthen secure digital identity and encrypted communications.
- P22 million for the Expanded National Risk Assessment, expanding the department’s ability to identify and prioritize cyber threats across sectors.
- P62.58 million for personnel increases, a move Poe described as adding 300 new DICT staff—representing roughly a 500 percent rise in capacity.
These line items reflect a deliberate shift toward a leaner, faster, and more capable cybersecurity posture, with emphasis on human resources and advanced infrastructure to support the nation’s digital ecosystem.
Scaling up the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC)
Beyond internal DICT enhancements, Poe highlighted the expansion of the CICC, the government’s central hub for cybercrime investigations and coordination. He outlined specific enhancements designed to increase case handling, reporting, and threat intelligence.
“First is the Cybercrime Response Center (CRC). With the proposed P121 million expansion, we’re looking at significantly increasing the CRC’s capacity from handling 6,000 cases under fiscal year 2026 to 27,000 cases annually.”
Likewise, the Cyber Complaint Center (C3) is set to receive about P30.5 million for expansion. This will raise its capacity from processing 6,000 complaints to 24,000 complaints per year, a fourfold increase designed to improve citizen-led reporting and rapid containment of incidents.
Another key area is the Threat Monitoring Center (TMC), earmarked for P25 million. With AI-driven tools, the TMC would analyze up to 7,000 cybercrime threats annually and generate at least six intelligence reports for strategic use throughout the year.
Public concerns and ongoing initiatives
Poe stressed that the amendments are responsive to public concern and aligned with DICT’s broader mandate to secure the digital frontier. He pointed to ongoing initiatives such as the “Scam Ba Yan” project—a nationwide awareness drive launched by the CICC to help citizens recognize and avoid scams. The campaign is part of a longer-term strategy to reduce risk by empowering the public with knowledge, in addition to strengthening the nation’s cyber defenses.
What this means for Filipinos and the national digital agenda
For ordinary users and organizations, the proposed DICT budget boost translates into faster incident response, better protection of online identities, and more reliable government digital services. With stronger NSOC and PNPKI capabilities, coupled with AI-enabled threat detection and expanded reporting channels, Filipino internet users should experience fewer successful intrusions and clearer avenues for reporting cybercrime.
However, the move also intensifies the ongoing debate about budget priorities and comprehensive cyber resilience in a rapidly digitizing economy. Supporters argue that investment now reduces costly breaches and systemic risk, while critics call for clear milestones and measurable outcomes to ensure accountability for the P1 billion increase in the 2026 GAB.
Looking ahead: accountability and implementation
As the DICT outlines its 2026 plan, lawmakers will closely monitor milestones, from NSOC and PNPKI upticks to the CRC and C3 expansion figures. The Scam Ba Yan program and related awareness drives will be evaluated for their effectiveness in reducing scam exposure. If realized, the enhanced DICT budget could serve as a blueprint for a more resilient, citizen-centric cybersecurity framework in the Philippines.
