USAID Launches In-Depth Cybersecurity Training For Philippine Government Agencies

To strengthen cybersecurity in the Philippines, the U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), launched its inaugural Certified Information Systems Security Professionals (CISSP) Training and Certification Program. This program, designed to help government personnel better understand information security, is part of USAID’s commitment to help improve the Philippines' information and communications technology and logistics infrastructure.

“A robust and competitive digital ecosystem is an essential component of the Philippines’ inclusive and resilient economic growth,” said USAID Philippines Deputy Director of the Office of Economic Development and Governance Eric Florimon-Reed. USAID is working with the public and private sectors to improve the country’s information and communications technology infrastructure and connectivity, and to promote investment in key national information and communications technology projects.”

Developed by the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC), the CISSP certification is the gold standard for information security certification. Seventeen government officials from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Finance, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and Central Bank of the Philippines joined USAID’s inaugural training program from August 8 to 12, learning how to effectively design, engineer, and manage their cybersecurity posture.

This training will help meet the growing demand for CISSP training in the Philippines. In addition to in-person training, trainees have access to self-paced online lessons, review materials, mock exams, and a voucher to cover the cost of the CISSP examination.

“With USAID’s support, part of the DICT’s Cybersecurity Plan is targeting 500 new CISSP-certified personnel in government agencies who will also have practical application and immersion to better improve their skill sets,” said DICT Cybersecurity Bureau Director Jose Carlos Reyes.

Through its Better Access and Connectivity (BEACON) activity, USAID aims to train a total of 2,000 government personnel in cybersecurity in the next four years.

For more than 60 years, USAID has partnered with the Philippine government and local organizations to achieve shared development goals, investing more than Php 247.5 billion ($5.1 billion) to support the Philippines since 1961.