Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _______ 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING CRITICAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE INSTITUTIONS TO  
ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT ADEQUATE MEASURES TO PROTECT THEIR 
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT) SYSTEMS 
AND INFRASTRUCTURE 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the country’s digital transformation and 
digital economy. Filipinos now use 4.3 more new digital services on average compared 
to pre-pandemic years.1  E-commerce grew significantly, and sales are expected to 
be valued at US$10.3 billion by 2025.2  The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported that 
53% of adult Filipinos had electronic money accounts in 2021, up from 29% in 2019.3  
According to the World Bank’s assessment, online education and remote work are 
here to stay.4 
Increased use of digital technologies, especially the Internet, is accompanied 
by cyberthreats and risks. Malicious actors—from casual scammers to highly 
sophisticated state-backed groups—hunt for vulnerabilities in ICT systems and 
networks to steal information, disrupt essential services, and profit from attacks. 
Hence, it is critically important to ensure that the Philippines has a national policy 
framework for the protection of digital assets, especially critical information 
1 Google, Temasek, & Bain & Company (2021). e-Conomy SEA 2021: Roaring 20s: The SEA digital divide. 
https://services.google.com/fh/files/misc/philippines_e_conomy_sea_2021_report.pdf 
2 GlobalData (9 Dec 2021). Online shopping and rising internet penetration to lead Philippines e-commerce at 17% CAGR through 2025, 
forecasts GlobalData. https://www.globaldata.com/online-shopping-rising-internet-penetration-lead-philippines-e-commerce-17-
cagr-2025-forecasts-globaldata/ 
3 Villanueva, J. (24 Jan 2022). PH digital transactions to grow despite challenges: BSP chief. 
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1166236; GCash alone grew 200% between 2020 and May 2022, now boasting 60 million users. 
See Cueto, F.E. (25 May 2022). Gcash claims 60 million users in PH. https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/05/25/business/top-
business/gcash-claims-60-million-users-in-ph/1844877 
4 World Bank (2020). Building a resilient recovery. Philippines Economic Update: December 2020 edition. 
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/34899/Philippines-Economic-Update-Building-a-Resilient-
Recovery.pdf 
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infrastructure (CII), against threats that could paralyze our economy and affect the 
wellbeing of Filipinos.  
 
The Philippine National Cyber Security Plan 2022 highlighted the goal of 
“assuring the continuous operation of the nation’s critical information infrastructure.” 
These digital systems underpin the operation of critical infrastructure, such as water, 
electricity, banking and financial networks, telecommunications, and other networks 
vital to the operation of the country.  
 
In light of these risks, it is high time to ensure the protection of CIIs by ensuring, 
at the minimum, compliance with international standards and globally accepted best 
practices for cybersecurity.  
 
As a proactive and institutionally cohesive response, this bill aims to protect the 
cybersecurity of CII by requiring the: (i) adoption of minimum information security 
standards, (ii) creation of a computer emergency response team and reporting of 
cybersecurity incidents, and (iii) development of a capable pool of cybersecurity 
professionals and practitioners that will be critical to the effective implementation of 
cybersecurity policy, rules, and standards.  
 
If passed, the Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Act will provide a 
framework for ensuring the security and reliability of the country’s digital ecosystem, 
which is crucial to the country’s continued digitalization and growing digital economy. 
As a necessary step to improving Philippine cybersecurity, the passage of this bill is 
earnestly sought for the security and well-being of all Filipinos. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL No. _______ 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Introduced by HONORABLE ERNESTO “ERNIX” M. DIONISIO, JR. 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING CRITICAL INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE INSTITUTIONS TO  
ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT ADEQUATE MEASURES TO PROTECT THEIR 
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT) SYSTEMS 
AND INFRASTRUCTURE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1.  Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Critical Information 
Infrastructure Protection Act of 2022.” 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – The growth of information computer 
technology is accompanied by new and serious threats and, as such, the state 
recognizes as vitally important the establishment of a more secure cyberspace and a 
data protection regime that is compliant with international standards and ensures the 
free flow of information.  
It is the policy of the State to protect Critical Information Infrastructure (“CII”) 
from cyberattacks and threats, data manipulation, cybercrimes, and activities of 
malicious actors. The State recognizes that the protection of computers, networks, 
electronic devices, and digital assets, including information, is a common objective 
and requires the combined efforts of the public and private sectors, and cooperation 
with local and international actors, in order to minimize the impact of, if not prevent, 
cyberattacks, threats, and risks on the nation’s security and socio-economic well-
being.  
Further, the adoption and implementation of minimum information security 
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standards is a globally accepted best practice to provide guidance, which would lead 
to more efficient use of resources, improved risk management, consistent delivery of 
critical and essential services, and effective protection of the confidentiality, integrity, 
and availability of information that is vital to the nation. 
 
Section 3. Definition. – For the purpose of this Act and for the implementation 
of the policy contained herein, the following definitions shall apply: 
 
a) “Critical infrastructure” refers to assets, systems, and networks, whether 
physical or virtual, that are considered so vital that their destruction or 
disruption would have a debilitating impact on national security, health 
and safety, or economic well-being of citizens, or any combination 
thereof. 
 
b) “Critical Information Infrastructure (CII)” refers to computer systems, ICT 
information and communications technology (ICT) networks, and digital 
assets that are necessary for the continuous operation and delivery of 
the country’s critical infrastructure services.  
 
c) “CII institution” refers to a government agency or a private company that 
owns, operates, controls, and/or maintains critical information 
infrastructure, and whose operation is nationwide in scope and/or covers 
metropolitan centers, including Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, 
and, by 2025, Metro Cagayan de Oro, or as defined and updated by the 
National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) or the Philippine 
Statistics Authority (PSA). 
 
d) “Computer Emergency Response Team” or “CERT” refers to an 
organization that studies computer and network security in order to 
provide incident response services to victims of attacks, publish alerts 
concerning vulnerabilities and threats, and to offer other information to 
help improve computer and network security. 
 
e) “Information security” refers to the preservation of the confidentiality, 
integrity, and availability of information. This may also involve other 
properties, such as authenticity, accountability, non-repudiation, and 
reliability of information. 
 
f) “Information security incident” refers to an occurrence that actually or 
potentially jeopardizes the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of an 
information system or the information the system processes, stores, or 
transmits or that constitutes a violation or imminent threat of violation of 
security policies, security procedures, or acceptable use policies. 
 


g) “Information system” refers to applications, services, information 
technology assets, or any component handling information. 
 
Section 4. Coverage of Critical Information Infrastructure. – This Act covers 
CII, whether in the public or private sector, in industries including, but not limited to:  
 
a) Banking and finance; 
b) Broadcast media; 
c) Emergency services and disaster response; 
d) Energy; 
e) Health; 
f) Telecommunications;  
g) Transportation (land, sea, air); and 
h) Water. 
 
An entity, whether public or private, that owns, operates, and maintains CII in 
the industries mentioned above, and as updated by the Department of Information and 
Communications Technology (DICT), shall be covered by this Act. 
 
The DICT shall institute a consultation process to update the definition of a CII, 
the list of CII institutions, and the sector or industry covered as CII every three (3) 
years from the effectivity of this Act.  
 
Section 5. Adoption of Minimum Information Security Standards. – All 
covered CII institutions shall adopt and implement adequate measures to protect their 
ICT systems and infrastructure, and respond to and recover from any information 
security incident, in compliance with existing laws, rules and regulations.  
 
They are required to: 
 
a) Adopt the Code of Practice stipulated in the Philippine National Standard 
(PNS) on ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security Management System 
(ISMS) (series of standards) and PNS ISO 22301 Security and resilience 
– Business continuity management systems (BCMS). They shall also 
adopt the ISO/IEC 27701 Privacy Information Management Systems, as 
applicable; 
 
b) Submit to the DICT a copy of their formal certification as proof of 
adoption of the PNS ISO/IEC 27000 (series of standards), PNS ISO 
22301, and ISO/IEC 27701, as applicable; and 
 
c) Ensure that their certificates are up-to-date and shall submit the latest 
annual audit confirmation to the DICT.   
 


 
In lieu of the submission of formal certification above, covered CII 
institutions shall subject themselves to an annual information security self-assessment 
using standards, such as but not limited to, the Center for Internet Security (CIS) 
Controls or the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special 
Publication (SP) 800-53, during the first quarter of each year. The concerned institution 
shall submit this self-declaration and attest to its validity to the DICT on or before the 
31st of March. The self-declaration shall be signed off by the respective head of the 
department directly in charge of the agency’s information security systems.  
 
Each CII institution shall adopt programs, guidelines, and written procedures 
for the implementation of its chosen information security standard, which shall be 
included in their annual submission. 
 
 
The DICT shall have the authority to determine and update information security 
standards, and require CII institutions to comply with such standards, as it deems it 
necessary and appropriate.  
 
Nothing in this Act shall prevent a government agency or a sector regulator 
from imposing additional or more stringent information security standards for 
compliance by industry players under its jurisdiction, as it deems necessary. 
  
Section 6. National Computer Emergency Response Team (“NCERT”) as 
the Centralized Information Security Incident Reporting Mechanism. – All 
covered CII Institutions shall:  
 
a) Report all information security incidents affecting their institutions to the 
DICT’s Philippine National Computer Emergency Response Team, 
which shall be the central authority for all Sectoral and Organizational 
CERTs in the country;  
 
b) Submit an information security incident detection report to the NCERT 
within twenty-four (24) hours upon detection of the incident(s). The report 
shall contain basic information about the incident, such as: (1) date when 
the incident was first detected, (ii) nature of the information security 
incident, (iii) possible business processes and functions compromised, 
and (iv) agency’s initial response and next steps;  
 
c) Submit an incident progress report, upon request of the NCERT, in order 
to help assess and provide the necessary support in responding to an 
incident;  
 
d) Submit a post-incident report, which contains the following information: 
(i) magnitude of business operations compromised, (ii) risk assessment, 
and (iii) the agency’s response. They shall also provide the necessary 


additional information about the incident, as requested by the NCERT; 
 
e) Compile on an annual basis a summary of all information security 
incident reports and submit an annual report to the DICT Cybersecurity 
Bureau every 30th of June; 
 
f) Comply with the reporting mechanism and template prescribed by the 
DICT, in the submission of all the reporting requirements described 
above: Provided, that information-sharing shall be done using 
established communication protocol, using at the minimum, the Traffic 
Light Protocol (TLP) as established by the DICT MC 2017-005 or 
succeeding policies; and  
 
g) Participate in activities that help promote awareness, capacity building, 
and improve an organization’s information security readiness, 
protection, and incident response capabilities, such as but not limited to 
cyber drills. 
 
Section 7. Designation of Personnel with Information Security 
Credentials. – All government agencies shall have at least one personnel with 
sufficient information security training and credentials. Such personnel shall, 
preferably, hold at least Division Chief plantilla position (or equivalent) and perform 
decision-making or management functions. The DICT shall identify and release a list 
of credentials that meet this requirement. Such personnel shall be the point person for 
(i) compliance with prescribed standards, (ii) building information security capability 
within the agency, and (iii) compliance with the agency’s and NCERT’s reporting 
requirements. 
 
Section 8. Compliance by all covered CII Institutions. – 
 
Government compliance: The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) 
shall review the submission by a CII Institution to the DICT of a formal certification or 
self-declaration of compliance with any of the prescribed information security 
standards, whichever submission applies, as a prerequisite to budgetary approval. A 
government institution or sector regulator, which itself operates or has jurisdiction over 
CII, shall comply with the requirements set forth in this Act. 
 
Non-government or private company compliance: Compliance with this Act, 
specifically of Sections 5 (standards) and 6 (reporting), shall be a prerequisite for the 
granting of any regulatory approval, permit, and/or license to a private company 
covered under Section 4 of this Act. 
 
Section 9. Implementing Agency. – The DICT, through its Cybersecurity 
Bureau, shall be the implementing agency of this Act, in accordance with the National 


Cybersecurity Plan and relevant DICT policies. The DICT shall: 
 
a) Create and maintain a database of all certifications, self-declaration, and 
attestations of all covered CII institutions;  
 
b) Prescribe minimum information security standards for compliance by all 
CII institutions; 
 
c) Serve as the custodian for information security standards and incident 
reports;   
 
d) Collect and analyze all pertinent information about an information 
security incident, and provide to government institutions, sectoral 
CERTs, and to the public a technical report of information security 
incidents for purposes of policy, regulation, and providing guidance to all 
stakeholders on local information security issues. 
 
e) Prescribe a mechanism and template for the reporting of information 
security incidents to the NCERT; and 
 
f) Institute a consultation process and hold consultations to update the 
coverage and definition of CII, minimum information security standards, 
and recognize individual information security certifications every three 
(3) years from the effectivity of this Act.  
 
Section 10. Responsibilities of the Department Heads and Sector 
Regulators with jurisdiction over CII Institutions. – The heads of departments and 
sector regulators who have a mandate over covered CII Institutions, including Sectoral 
CERT Leads as identified in DICT DC 003-2020, in coordination with the DICT, shall 
be responsible for issuing the necessary policy and regulation that promote 
information security and require compliance of CII institutions with the prevailing 
standards to ensure information security and business continuity.  
 
Section 11. Funding. – The initial funding requirements for the implementation 
of this Act shall be charged against the existing budget of the covered CII institutions 
and such other appropriate funding sources as the DBM may identify, subject to 
relevant laws, rules, and regulations.  
 
Section 12. Penalty. – Non-compliance with the provisions of this Act, whether 
or not it results in data loss, breaches, hacking, or similar incidents, may result in 
administrative, civil, or criminal liability under applicable laws, including but not limited 
to Republic Act No. 10175 also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 and 
Republic Act No. 10173 or the Data Privacy Act of 2012.  
 


Section 13. Annual Report. – Every 30th of April of every year, the DICT shall 
report to the Office of the President the status of the implementation of this Act. 
  
Section 14. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue 
to be in full force and effect. 
  
Section 15. Repealing Clause. – All laws, rules, and regulations inconsistent 
with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
  
Section 16. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
 
Approved,