The MIMAROPA region has recorded the highest rate of cyber incidents in the country, pushing government agencies to plan intensified collaboration to combat cybersecurity threats.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) 2024 National Information and Communications Technology Household Survey shows 73.8 percent of individuals aged 10 and above in the region experienced cyber incidents, making it the country’s most affected area.

SMS scams account for 57.3 percent of all cyber threats in the region, followed by hacking at 4.9 percent, cyberbullying at 1.3 percent, and phishing at 0.9 percent, the survey revealed.

Despite the high exposure to online threats, only 25.4 percent of the region’s 2.5 million residents are aware of cybersecurity and data privacy measures, the second-lowest awareness rate nationwide.

The data exposes “a glaring vulnerability in the region’s digital safety net,” with 98.3 percent of victims choosing not to report incidents, allowing cybercriminals to operate undetected.

DICT MIMAROPA Regional Director Emmy Lou Delfin announced plans for intensified programs and campaigns in collaboration with law enforcement.

Police Regional Office MIMAROPA’s Plans and Research Section Chief PCpt. Demaclid Ramon Jr. urged community participation, warning that “without the public reporting incidents promptly, law enforcement efforts will fall short.”

Currently, only 0.4 percent of affected individuals report cyber incidents in MIMAROPA, compared to 5 percent in regions like Bicol.

The Bicol Region ranked second with 72.1 percent of residents experiencing cyber incidents, followed by Central Luzon (67.1 percent), Eastern Visayas (66.9 percent), and the National Capital Region (66.5 percent).

Nationwide, cybercrime complaints filed with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center tripled to 10,004 in 2024, compared to 3,317 in 2023.

The country strengthened its anti-scam laws in 2024 with the enactment of Republic Act 12010, known as the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA).

The law targets social engineering schemes, including SMS-induced fraud, with penalties of 10-12 years imprisonment and fines up to P1 million for basic violations.

For economic sabotage involving organized groups or mass communications, penalties can reach life imprisonment and fines up to P5 million.

The law defines social engineering schemes as obtaining sensitive identifying information through deception or fraud, including “using electronic communications to obtain another person’s sensitive identifying information”.

Banks and financial institutions must implement fraud management systems and multi-factor authentication under the new law, which also grants the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas authority to temporarily hold disputed funds for up to 30 days.

The legislation builds on the 2012 Cybercrime Prevention Act (Republic Act 10175), which first established comprehensive cybercrime penalties in the Philippines.

image courtesy of PhilPost (for illustration purposes only)