FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENJ.'W-
' 
S. No, t:b(4 
~emdp 
(~!ftl! uf lil' ~rr"t"r ~ 
'11 
FEB -3 P3 :07 
RECEIVED BY:+---_ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam D'efensor Santiago 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
On 29 August 2010, the Philippine Information Agency's portal was reportedly hacked. 
The site was down for several hours, with the words "Hacked by 7z1" appearing if searched for 
on Google. An error message was displayed whenever a user tried to enter PIA's website. 
In the same week, the local government website of Bulacan was allegedly infiltrated by a 
Chinese hacker who demanded an apology for the Manila hostage tragedy that led to the death of 
eight Hong Kong tourists in 23 August. 
The personal Facebook account of President Noynoy Aquino, which is linked to his 
official website, has also been reportedly attacked over the hostage tragedy, prompting the 
President to censor his Facebook page. 
According to news reports, this is not the first time that government websites have been 
hacked this year. In January 20 I 0, hackers defaced the home page of the Technical Education 
and Skills Development Authority website. One month before this breach, the websites of the 
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Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Justice, 
the Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and the 
Information Technology and Electronic Commerce Cou~cil were also allegedly hacked. l 
In order to help curb the alarming rise in cyb!,!r attacks, the Commission on Higher 
Education should encourage institutions of higher education to develop cybersecurity 
professional programs. 
Hence, this bill authorizes the Commission on Higher Education to establish, in 
conjunction with the Department of Science of Technology, a program to award grants to 
1 http://www.futuregov.asia/alii cles/20 I 0/ sep/05/hacker-attacks-sti r -cyber -security-debate-philippil. 


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institulions of higher education for: (1) cybersecurity professional development programs; (2) 
associate degree programs in cybersecurily; and (3) the purchase of equipment to provide 
training in cybersecurity for either professional development or degree programs. 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SEN.;\UL 
S. No. ztj'/4 
'11 
FEB-3 P3:07 
I{ECEIVI~D BY:-\--_ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
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AUTHORIZING THE COMMISSION ON HIGHEl} EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH A 
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PROGRAM TO AWARD GRANTS TO INSTlTU:nONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION 
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FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OR EXPANSION OF 
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CYBERSECURlTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Cybersecurity Education 
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Enhancement Act." 
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SECTION 2. Commission on Higher Education Cybersecurity Training Programs and 
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Equipment. - The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall establish, in conjunction with 
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the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), a program to award grants to institutions of 
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higher education (and consortia thereof) for: 
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(a) 
the establishment or expansion Of cybersecurity professional development 
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programs; 
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(b) 
the establishment or expansion (or both) of associate degree programs in 
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cybersecurity; and 
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(c) 
the purchase of equipment to provide training m cybersecurity for either 
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professional development programs or degree programs. 
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SECTION 3. Roles. -
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(a) 
CHED - The Commission, in consultation with the Secretary of Science and 
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Technology, shall establish the goals for the program established under this Act and the criteria 
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for awarding grants. 
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(b) 
DOST - The Secretary shall operate the program established under this Act 
, 
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consistent with the goals and criteria established unfier paragraph (a), including soliciting 


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applicants, reviewing applications, and making and administering awards. The Secretary shall 
consult with the CHED in selecting awardees. 
SECTION 4. Awards. -
(a) 
Peer Review. - All awards under this Act shall be provided on a competitive, 
merit-reviewed basis. 
(b) 
Focus. - In making awards under this Act, the Secretary shall, to the extent 
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practicable, ensure geographic diversity and the participation of women and underrepresented 
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minorities. 
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(c) 
Preference. - In making awards under this Act, the Secretary shall give preference 
to applications submitted by consortia of institutions to encourage as many students and 
professionals as possible to benefit from the program established under this Act. 
SECTION 5. Authorization of Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, 
there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, any other provision not affected thereby shall remain in full force and 
effect. 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, d~crees, orders, rules and regulations, or 
parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 8. EffectiVity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
0, 
Approved, 
/fldp 
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