LEGAZPI CITY, Albay (PIA) – To further engage the youth in cybersecurity and address the surge of hacking incidents in the country, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) through its National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-PH) spearheaded its HackForGov Capture-the-Flag competition in the Bicol region on September 21, 2023.
At least 10 teams composed of students from different universities and colleges faced up to the challenge on cybersecurity, cryptography, exploit, investigation, programming, web, network security and others.
“Ang pinaka-purpose po ng HackForGov ng DICT is para ma-encourage natin yung mga student na mag-practice ng cyber security profession dito sa Pilipinas,” Whichel Ann Villagomez, information officer of cybersecurity bureau, said. (The purpose of DICT’s HackForGov is to encourage students to practice cyber security profession in the Philippines.)
Villagomez emphasized that the DICT aims to encourage Filipino youth to venture into ‘ethical hacking’ and into the in-demand field of cybersecurity which will help increase the number of cyber-experts in the country.
“Ang connotation ng hacking is negative, so gusto natin na hikayatin ang ating students na hindi naman masama ang pag-hack kung tamang direksyon ang pupuntahan nila. Huwag sila doon sa hacking na na-iinvolve sa cybercrime,” she said. (The connotation of hacking is negative, so we want to show students that it is not bad when you go to the right path. They should not engage in hacking that amounts to cybercrime.)
