Cybercrime Surge Spurs P1B DICT Security Budget Boost, Poe Says
The surge in cybercrime has become a rallying cry for a bigger shield around the Philippines’ digital landscape. FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-list Rep. Brian Poe, a vice chairman of the Committee on Appropriations and the budget sponsor for the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on September 30, argued for a P1 billion increase to the DICT’s security budget in the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2026. His push comes as the country confronts a dramatic rise in online crime and the corresponding costs passed on to both individuals and institutions.
In presenting the case during marathon plenary debates on the P6.793-trillion GAB for 2026, Poe highlighted a threefold jump in recorded cybercrime cases—from 3,317 in 2023 to 10,004 in 2024. The losses attached to these crimes were substantial, with direct victim costs near ₱200 million and institutional damages totaling about ₱5.82 billion. “We increased the national security budget of the DICT by P1 billion. And I will break that down for you,” Poe stated, outlining specific allocations meant to fortify cybersecurity across the government and protect ordinary Filipinos online.
Budget Plan: Concrete Allocations for 2026
The proposed increase includes a series of targeted investments intended to fortify the DICT’s cyber defense framework and response capabilities. Key line items include:
- P812 million for the National Security Operations Center (NSOC), aimed at enhancing real-time monitoring and rapid response to threats.
- P103.42 million for the Philippine National PKI (PNPKI) to strengthen secure digital identities and cryptographic infrastructure.
- P22 million for the Expanded National Risk Assessment to broaden risk awareness and horizon scanning.
- P62.58 million for personnel—the allocation represents a 500 percent increase in capacity, adding 300 new specialists to strengthen DICT’s on-the-ground cyber defense and policy execution.
These amendments reflect a broader strategy to extend DICT’s mandate and capability in the face of escalating cyber threats. Poe stressed that the additional funding is not merely a budget line but a means to empower officers and systems that safeguard government data and private citizens alike.
Scaling Up the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center
Central to Poe’s proposal is a major expansion of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC). The plan would significantly scale up three core components:
- Cybercrime Response Center (CRC): With a proposed expansion of P121 million, the CRC’s capacity would rise from handling about 6,000 cases in fiscal year 2026 to an estimated 27,000 cases annually—a dramatic leap in incident handling and case resolution.
- Cyber Complaint Center (C3): An expected P30.5 million increase would raise its capacity from roughly 6,000 complaints to about 24,000 complaints per year, improving citizens’ access to assistance and reporting.
- Threat Monitoring Center (TMC): A P25 million allocation would equip the TMC with AI-driven tools designed to analyze and detect up to 7,000 cybercrime threats each year, generating at least six strategic intelligence reports to guide policy and enforcement actions.
Poe noted that these expansions are designed not only to respond more effectively to incidents but also to anticipate threats through enhanced data analytic capabilities and intelligence sharing across agencies.
Public Awareness and Ongoing Initiatives
Beyond hardware and personnel, Poe cited ongoing DICT/CICC initiatives aimed at reducing scams and online fraud. The “Scam Ba Yan” project, a nationwide awareness campaign, seeks to educate citizens on recognizing and avoiding online scams, representing a critical public-facing arm of the department’s cybersecurity strategy. The initiative underscores the administration’s intent to protect Filipinos online while the country upgrades its technical defenses.
Implications for the 2026 Budget and Digital Security
As lawmakers weigh the P6.793-trillion GAB for 2026, Poe’s proposals reflect a growing consensus that cyber threats require robust, well-financed responses. The combination of heavier staffing, enhanced cryptographic infrastructure, real-time monitoring, and AI-enabled threat analysis marks a shift toward proactive defense and rapid remediation. If approved, the P1 billion DICT security budget boost could accelerate the Philippines’ transition from a reactive to a more resilient cyber landscape.
About the Legislator
Poe, representing the FPJ Panday Bayanihan Party-list and serving as vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee, has positioned cybersecurity as a top budget priority for 2026. His role as the budget sponsor for DICT underscores the growing importance of safeguarding digital infrastructure in public policy and national security planning.
As the GAB debates continue, the DICT reforms and the CICC upgrades could set important precedents for how the Philippines allocates resources to defend its digital frontiers while raising public awareness about online safety.
