ILIGAN CITY (PIA)--As the greater population shifts from face-to-face to online transactions and activities, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) intensifies its campaign posting precautions against issues and concerns usually encountered in cyberspace through installing awareness on cybersecurity.

In the second session of the Philippine National Public Key Infrastructure (PNPKI) initiated by DICT Mindanao 2 Cluster Friday, November 5, DICT’s Engr. Jodelum Tuscano admitted that cases wherein websites, especially of government’s, were indeed breached and intruded on by malicious hackers.

“Mayroon tayong nakikitang incident na iyong mga government website ay nahahack or nadedeface. Mawawala iyong screen ng mismong government agency and once you open the site, usually black ang background, and nakalagay doon ang gusto nilang iparating sa government,” she said as she showed several news stories detailing such occurrence.

[We have seen incidents where government websites are being hacked and defaced. The screen itself of the government agency disappears and once you open the site, the background is usually black and the message they want to send to the government is posted there.]

Tuscano stated that these instances of hacking or defacing are just some of the many issues transpiring when going into cyberspace.

She cited more circumstances such as stealing of millions online by criminals, government surveillance, and pursuing political goals by hacktivists while common threats are likewise present including phishing which is the fraudulent practice of sending emails to get personal or financial information, identity theft which is the deliberate use of someone else’s identity to gain financial advantage, hacking which is the unauthorized intrusion into a computer or network, and internet fraud which is the fraudulent online business scheme.

Tuscano added that there are also times when people can provide sensitive information from their end without them being aware of such, which she said can be avoided through appropriate education on cybersecurity.

“In that case, kailangan maging [it is a need to be] cyber literate in terms of the protection of our personal information, and also protection of the infos of our friends and our offices that we belong to,” she urged.

The DICT also emphasized that to protect oneself in cyberspace, attachments from unknown sources must not be opened, dubious or unverified links must not be clicked, passwords must be changed regularly, and interaction with other people online must be done carefully.

Further, security devices must as much as possible be installed, installment of third party applications from the internet must be avoided, be careful on plugging anything on own device, and only add recognized people.

Additional precautions are also posted, including one must not be showy on social media, avoid using third-party applications on social media, turn off location settings on the phone unless necessary, and report and ask help from authorities.

Tuscano underscored that any victim of cyberspace crimes or those with pertinent complaints may connect with the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Department of Justice Office of Cybercrime (DOJ-OOC), and DICT Cybercrime Investigation Coordination Center (CICC). (CRG/PIA-Lanao del Norte)

TUBOD, LANAO DEL NORTE -- To encourage those individuals who did not receive their jab of the vaccines yet, the Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte (PGLDN), through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), provided rice and adult milk to over 1,600 fully vaccinated senior citizens in the municipalities of Maigo, Sapad, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, and Pantar.

In the continuous fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the PGLDN sees the need to protect all constituents, especially those belonging to the vulnerable sector, such as the senior citizens.

"Although we only have a few COVID-19 cases here in our province, we must not be complacent. We are still far from our goal of herd immunity, and unless we achieve it, we cannot stop," said Governor Imelda 'Angging' Quibranza-Dimaporo.  

In a bid to hasten the National Vaccination Program and reach herd immunity, the Provincial Government, along with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Provincial Health Office (PHO), continue to convince the residents to get vaccinated for their safety and protection.

Along with the PSWDO in distributing the goods were the Municipal Police, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), and the Provincial Community Affairs Office (PCAO). (PIO-LDN)

TUBOD, LANAO DEL NORTE -- All department heads and employees of the Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte (PGLDN) underwent random drug testing on October 19-28, 2021.

The Provincial Human Resource Management and Development Office (PHRMDO) spearheaded the said activity in partnership with JJB Medical Diagnostics.

PGLDN supports the campaign of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in ending the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country. Thus, along with the JJB medical team, the PHRMDO visited the different offices to collect urine samples of every employee, including the Provincial Hospitals and Mindanao Civic Center staff.

With the series of anti-illegal drug programs implemented by the national government agencies in the province, Provincial Governor Imelda 'Angging' Quibranza-Dimaporo initiated the Provincial Government's drive in reinforcing the vision of the President and to make sure that all employees under the PGLDN understand this crusade even during the pandemic.

"This random drug test is instrumental in maintaining a drug-free workplace that complies with the Civil Service Commission's guideline on the mandatory drug test. To serve the people of Lanao del Norte better, we should be in our best condition and not under the influence of illicit drugs," Dimaporo said. (PIO LDN)

An employee from the Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte hands in his urine sample for drug testing. (PIO LDN)

TUBOD, LANAO DEL NORTE -- The Provincial Government of Lanao Del Norte, through the Provincial Health Office (PHO) - Environmental and Health Cluster together with the Local Government Unit (LGU) and the Rural Health Unit (RHU) of Tubod awarded Barangay Patudan of this municipality as ZOD (Zero Open defecation) barangay.

Barangay Patudan is the second barangay in Tubod that was declared as a ZOD barangay this year.

Through the leadership of barangay chairperson Richel Pepito Sabal and the help of the RHU, LGU, and the PHO, people of Patudan now have access to sanitary toilets and will no longer defecate in the open, in fields, and waterways where children will experience frequent bouts of diarrhea, have worm infections and grow up stunted and undernourished.

The Department of Health, through the National Sustainable Sanitation Plan (NSSP), has set a target that by 2022, all barangays that are practicing open defecation shall be declared ZOD status.

Governor Imelda 'Angging' Quibranza-Dimaporo is one with the DOH and PHO in their goal of helping all barangays achieve ZOD.

"The goal of having ZOD status in all barangays, especially in the remote areas, can be achieved if we put all our efforts together through ordinances, project implementation, performance monitoring, and aggressive goal setting. I am appealing to all Barangay leaders to put their attention into developing a holistic approach to a cleaner, healthy and sustainable environment," the Governor said. (PIO-LDN)

The Provincial Government of Lanao Del Norte, through the Provincial Health Office (PHO) - Environmental and Health Cluster together with the Local Government Unit (LGU) and the Rural Health Unit (RHU) of Tubod award Barangay Patudan of this municipality as a ZOD (Zero Open defecation) village.

TUBOD, LANAO DEL NORTE -- Representatives of Namkwang Kukdong Gumgwang JV and Project Management Consultants, Department of Works and Highways (DPWH) and Provincial Government of Lanao del Norte convened for a Multi-Partite Management Team (MMT) Orientation Meeting on the Panguil Bay Bridge Project (PBB).

During the meeting, OJin Kwon, construction team manager of NKG-JV, presented an overview and update on the civil works of the PBB Project. The NKG-JV announced that for the planned 40 EA board filing works scheduled for 2021, 28 EA are already installed at the site as of October. For the substructure, there are still 12 EA (column) that need to be accomplished for 2021.

NKG-JV pollution control officer Marlo Japsvon Rico discussed several environmental activities and the amended Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) conditions to address various concerns of the residents and local government units, particularly along with the coastal areas.

In her message, Governor Imelda 'Angging' Quibranza Dimaporo emphasized the importance of this undertaking to address and protect the Panguil Bay itself.

"This should have been finished before the construction of the bridge, but it is not too late. We still have a lot to do to protect the marine life and recapture the beauty of the Panguil Bay," the Governor said.

Additionally, Congressman Abdullah Dimakuta Dimaporo of the 2nd District appealed for the constant support of the DPWH for the continuous development of the project.

The PBB Project is a 3.7km-long two-lane bridge that will supposedly be completed before 2023. However, due to some setbacks, the construction of the bridge has been delayed.

Meanwhile, a Memorandum of Agreement between the DPWH and other concerned offices and sectoral groups was signed to create a Multi-partite Monitoring Team (MMT), Environmental Monitoring Fund, and the Environmental Guarantee Fund. The MMT will be comprised of the DPWH, local government units (PGLDN, municipal & barangay), non-government organizations such as concerned Fishelfolks Association, Women's Association & MSU-MSAT, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). MMT aims to monitor the project compliance and other measures about the development of the PBB project.

The conference and MOA signing were personally attended and witnessed by Director Reynaldo S. Digamo of the DENR-EMB Region 10 and the Project Manager III of the DPWHTeresita Bauzon.

The Governor assured unceasingly support to the DPWH and the Korean Contractors to see to it that the development of the PBB project will go smoothly as it carries out its construction duration in 2023.  

The project will not only shorten the travel time to Tangub City, Misamis Occidental but will also open doors for further development, bridging diverse cultures and traditions for a better future for the whole Zamboanga Peninsula. (PIO-LDN)

DPWH and other concerned offices and sectoral groups ink a memorandum of agreement to create a Multi-Partite Monitoring Team to monitor the project compliance and other measures about the development of the Panguil Bay Bridge project.