MERALCO EMPOWERS EDUCATORS TO FOSTER A RESILIENT DIGITAL FUTURE
Combating cybercrime PNP-NCR Cyber Response Unit and Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit Police Colonel Jay Guillermo shared several PNP’s programs to combat cyberthreats and emphasizing the importance of cybersecurity in education sector.
PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF MERALCO
Recognizing the critical role of teachers in shaping future generations, Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has launched a cyber security awareness program to empower educators in fostering a safe digital environment in the academe.
Aptly called Meralco Wavemaker, this community initiative spearheaded by the power distributor’s Cyber Security Group (CSG) and social development arm One Meralco Foundation (OMF) aims to empower educators to become advocates of digital safety and enable them to incorporate their learnings into their classrooms. The program involves a series of awareness training sessions to equip educators with a comprehensive understanding of foundational cyber security concepts.
Meralco engaged the Department of Education — National Capital Region (DepEd NCR) and the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) for the pilot session of the program, which was participated in by a total of 60 public high school teachers from NCR led by DepEd Assistant Secretary for Operations Jocelyn DR. Andaya, who concurrently serves as regional director.
Empowering educators Meralco Cyber Security Group, One Meralco Foundation President Jeffrey O. Tarayao (2nd row, 8th from left), DepEd Assistant Secretary for Operations Jocelyn DR. Andaya (2nd row center) and PNP-NCR Cyber Response Unit and Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit Police Colonel Jay Guillermo (2nd row, 7th from right) with 60 public school teachers during the awareness training program.
Dr. Andaya said the initiative ensures the readiness of the education sector in navigating the digital era and emphasized the importance of empowering more educators to respond to cybersecurity threats.
“We hope to replicate this so that more and more teachers will understand the threats to cybersecurity. It is here. It is happening. We just have to be made aware of it so that we know what to do,” she said during the pilot run of the program.
PNP-NCR Cyber Response Unit and Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit Police Colonel Jay Guillermo for his part discussed PNP’s initiatives to combat cybercrimes and enjoined the educators to proactively increase awareness and report incidents to the authorities.
The sessions also covered relevant topics including identifying cyber threats, practicing responsible digital citizenship, responding to cyberattacks effectively, and the wide array of career opportunities in the field of cyber security.
Meralco plans to conduct quarterly awareness training for secondary teachers across its franchise area, and eventually throughout the country.
