ROXAS LAUDS DTI FOR PROTECTING PERSONAL INFO IN ICT SYSTEM

Senator Mar Roxas yesterday lauded the Department of Trade and Industry for finally coming out with a comprehensive set of guidelines that will ensure the protection of personal data in information and communication system in the private sector.

The guidelines are contained in Department Administrative Order No. 08 and were issued by DTI Secretary Peter B. Favila last July 21. The E-Commerce Law, or Republic Act 8792, mandates the DTI to come out with such guidelines.

I appreciate the efforts of the DTI in finally coming out with the guidelines, as the private sector, especially the outsourcing sector, awaits these, Roxas said.

The guidelines prescribe the rules for personal data protection; define the roles of data protection certifiers; and encourage private entities to adopt privacy policies in ICT systems.

With these guidelines, the private sector will now be more encouraged to venture into e-commerce in the country and we have one more tool to promote the countrys ICT sector as an investment area, he added.

The senator from Capiz said having rules and regulation on data privacy use and protection is an important criterion for companies to decide where to outsource highly data-sensitive projects.

"The guidelines will provide Filipinos the knowledge on how to protect the privacy of their personal information and how to fight against those who abuse them using information and communications technology as a tool. These will also demonstrate the resilience of our country's E-Commerce Law, Roxas said.

As DTI secretary from 1998 to 2001, Roxas kick-started major initiatives in information and communication technology, including setting into motion the full implementation of the e-Commerce law and harnessing the powers and benefits of ICT for a competitive economy.

Roxas, acknowledged by the pioneers of the call center industry as the Father of business process outsourcing in the country, had led the first IT-enabled services mission to the US in 2001, which paved the way for the sector to become the countrys sunshine industry. Today, the countrys BPO sector employs over 200,000 workers, with projected earnings of over US$1 billion a year.