The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) vowed to ensure the safety and integrity of the May 12 midterm elections through the strengthening of the country’s digital infrastructure for elections.

“Sa digital bayanihan sisiguraduhin ng DICT na ligtas ang halalan, at ang boto ng bawat Pilipino ay mananatiling sagrado,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a Malacañang press briefing on Monday.

Castro said the DICT and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Advisory Council (CAC) had a meeting last week, which tackled the conduct of safe and credible elections amid the increasing threats in the digital space.

“Ang CAC na binubuo ng iba’t ibang sektor ay regular na nagpupulong para talakayin ang mga isyung may kinalaman sa halalan. Pinag-usapan din ang digital at automated election systems at mga rekomendasyon para sa COMELEC,” Castro said.

The key part of the initiative Digital Bayanihan is the collaboration with various technology giants, including TikTok, Google, and Meta which now implement a ban on paid political advertisements on their platforms, Castro said.

The DICT said Google has implemented the ban since the start of the official campaign period to support the goal of a clean and fair election.

Castro cited the agencies’ initiative to establish “Configuration Hubs” for a much more streamlined elections process. These agencies will also develop online tools such as precinct results finder, registration status verifier, and website for real time monitoring of election results and access to election data, she added.

“Kasama rin dito ang cybersecurity initiatives tulad ng vulnerability testing, security protocols, at paggamit ng Philippine National Public Key Infrastructure o PNPKI digital certificates para sa mga guro na magsisilbing electoral board members,” Castro said. | PND