The Department of National Defense (DND) conducted its first Senior Leaders Cyber Awareness Program on 26 June at Camp Aguinaldo to strengthen cyber resilience and strategic leadership across the defense sector.

With the theme "Cyber Resilience and Strategic Leadership in the Defense Sector," the program gathered senior DND officials to deepen their understanding of the evolving cyber threat landscape and reinforce their leadership roles in protecting the country's defense information systems, critical infrastructure, and operations.

In his opening remarks, Undersecretary for Information Systems and Cybersecurity Fabian M. Pedregosa said cybersecurity has become a strategic leadership imperative as the department continues its digital transformation.

"Cybersecurity is no longer a purely technical matter. It is now a strategic leadership concern that directly affects governance, operational continuity, public trust, and national security," Pedregosa said.

The program featured discussions led by officials from the Office of the Undersecretary for Information Systems and Cybersecurity, the Office of the DND Information Security, the Armed Forces of the Philippines Cyber Command, and the AFP Intelligence Service.

Topics included the cyber threat landscape, leadership responsibilities in cybersecurity, cyber resilience, continuity of operations, and the strategic direction of the department's cyber defense efforts.

Senior Undersecretary and Officer in Charge Irineo C. Espino, who delivered the keynote message, emphasized that cybersecurity requires sustained leadership and organization-wide commitment.

"Our cybersecurity is a strategic priority that requires widespread and complete buy-in within our entire organization and among all our stakeholders," Espino said.

He added that the Department of National Defense aims to strengthen its cybersecurity capability through structural transformation, policy development, and organizational capacity building.

Espino also urged senior leaders to integrate cybersecurity considerations into policymaking, decision-making, and day-to-day operations to help build a more cyber-secure and cyber-resilient defense organization.

The program forms part of the DND's continuing efforts to enhance cyber resilience and prepare the country's defense establishment to address evolving cyber threats.