PLDT and Microsoft seal partnership for Threat Intelligence sharing to combat rising Cybercrime in the Philippines

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PLDT Inc. and Microsoft today announced a strategic partnership to work together through Microsoft’s Cyber Threat Intelligence Program (CTIP), a move that aims to strengthen the country’s digital borders and infrastructure security against cyber threats.

The global COVID-19 pandemic continues to drive work and learning onto virtual ecosystems, and this increase of online usage and behavior has created a broader area of opportunity for cybercrime and malicious actors to target. 2021 saw a wide range of cyberattacks throughout the year, targeting stakeholders of public and private organizations, and even everyday consumers through mobile devices and social media platforms.

Microsoft’s Cyber Threat Intelligence Program is driven by its Digital Crimes Unit (DCU), an international team of technical, legal, and business experts created in 2008 to combat cybercrime on a global scale. Its expertise and unique view into online criminal networks uncover evidence used as criminal referrals to law enforcement agencies throughout the world.

Created in 2013, CTIP collects and distributes actionable cyber intelligence, including that derived from the Microsoft DCU’s botnet takedown operations to Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Critical Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs). CTIP data is also engineered into specific Microsoft products and services to help customers identify threats in their computing environments.

“Microsoft’s DCU values our threat intelligence-sharing partnerships, and we look forward to seeing how the Microsoft CTIP intelligence helps PLDT to protect the citizens of the Philippines,” said Mary Jo Schrade, Assistant General Counsel and Regional Lead, Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit Asia.

With this strategic partnership, PLDT will gain access to Microsoft DCU’s Azure-based cyber threat intelligence in real time, providing information about the impact in the Philippines from the malware families DCU has disrupted in the past. This intelligence will provide better insights into criminal cyber infrastructure located within their jurisdiction. PLDT, in turn, with its network domain knowledge, can help in two-way sharing of intelligence to identify compromised infrastructure and alert impacted entities in the country to potential cybercrime threats.

“Security is at an inflection point as cyberattacks become more sophisticated and digital attack surfaces exponentially increase. We believe that anything less than comprehensive security is no security at all,” said Microsoft Philippines Country General Manager, Andres Ortola. “We are committed to ensuring the internet is safe and secure for all users and our DCU is leading the fight against cybercrime to protect businesses and individuals and to promote trust globally. To date, the DCU has completed 24 malware disruption operations worldwide, resulting in millions of devices kept safe from cybercriminals and preventing millions in financial losses. Alongside PLDT, we can do more for the Philippines and empower a safer cyberspace for all Filipinos.”

The partnership with Microsoft is expected to help fortify PLDT’s existing and robust cybersecurity capabilities in preventing and mitigating cyber threats and attacks.

An industry leader in cybersecurity intelligence, PLDT and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. safeguard their over 70 million mobile and over 3.7 million broadband customers all over the country against emerging cyber threats and vulnerabilities, investing nearly P3 billion in cybersecurity infrastructure in 2021 alone. These major investments have strengthened the PLDT group’s predictive, preventive, detective, and responsive capabilities. Last year, the PLDT group acquired information on more than 200 million cyber threats and prevented close to 300 million combined types of cyber-attacks.

“Our mature and sophisticated threat intelligence operations is one of the key and most robust pillars of the PLDT group’s cybersecurity structure. We are glad to partner with Microsoft to help fortify our strong cyber threat intelligence operations, and to help us better protect our customers in particular, and the country’s cyber defenses in general,” according to Angel T. Redoble, FVP, Chief Information Security Officer, and head of PLDT and Smart’s Cyber Security Operations Group.

Every day, Microsoft analyzes over 6.5 trillion signals to identify emerging threats to protect customers and in response to the increasing cyber threats in the Philippines and globally, Microsoft will invest $20 billion over the next five years to accelerate efforts to integrate cyber security by design and to deliver advanced security solutions.

DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones shares journey to being an empowered woman, credits influence of education

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Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones shared her journey and educational experiences that helped her be empowered during the Asia Women’s Forum 2022 last Thursday.

“I was fortunate I grew up in a family where there were no distinctions between genders. The driving ambition was to send all of us to school,” Secretary Briones shared in the virtual event hosted by the Asia CEO Forum.

Awarded as Lifetime Contributor for Asia CEO Awards last year, Secretary Briones was among the 13 outstanding women across the world who were invited to deliver an inspiring speech that tackles their stories behind their success as a woman.

Born during the World War II in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental, Briones credited the efforts of her family, especially her parents who were teachers who prioritized learning by teaching children in their house and keeping them safe from the dangers of war.

“My parents were teachers, and what my mother did to distract the children from the noise and the horror of war was to gather them in our house, at the bottom of a gorge, and teach them how to read and write,” Secretary Briones narrated.

“There was no paper so banana leaves with lines were used, and sharpened bamboo sticks like barbecue sticks were used as pencils. That is how I learned how to write and read from worn-out books which my mother had saved from public school,” she added.

Inspired by her family, Secretary Briones excelled in pursuing her education. After high school, she finished Magna cum Laude from Silliman University while working as a bookkeeper in two bookstores. She then obtained her Master’s degree in public administration at the University of the Philippines and post-graduate diploma at Leeds University in England, and Harvard University in the United States.

During the forum, Secretary Briones recognized women as rulers, warriors, healers, princesses, and leaders, thus, having equal status with men before the conquerors in the Philippines came in. With this, she also challenged the traditional role of women in society.

“What I consider my contribution is my efforts and help in bringing back, resuscitating, encouraging, and inspiring women. We are equal with men, and with the freedom to choose what we want to be,” Secretary Briones noted.

The Asia Women’s Forum 2022 aims to deliver the successes and struggles of the most remarkable women in the world to mentor individuals in their businesses, career, and education.



Secretary Briones was joined by Nina Aguas, Executive Chairman of a Filipino-owned insurance company, renowned Filipino journalist Ruth Cabal, celebrity show host Pamela Pilapil, and BPO company leader Julie Casteel, among others in the forum.

Completion of the viaduct for Phase 1 of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension

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The completion of the viaduct for Phase 1 of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension only proves that the project is ever closer to reality, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Art Tugade said Monday, 07 February 2022.

Secretary Tugade made the statement as he witnessed the erection of the last span for Phase 1 of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project.

“20 years ago, the government had a vision of putting a Cavite extension for the LRT-1 line. This was just a dream 20 years ago,” Secretary Tugade said.

Completing the milestone plays a huge part in addressing mobility, connectivity, and convenience for Cavite and the southern part of Metro Manila, Secretary Tugade explained.

“Para mabuo ang Phase 1 viaduct kung saan magbibigay ito ng ugnayan papunta sa Cavite at magbibigay ng mobility, connectivity, at convenience. Malaking bagay po ‘yan,” he said.

“Ang pagtatapos ng Phase 1 viaduct ay pagpapakita natin sa bayan na ang proyekto ay totoo. Pinapakita natin sa bayan na ang proyekto ay paparating at matatapos na,” Secretary Tugade pointed out.

Secretary Tugade also expressed his gratitude to the local government of Parañaque and the Light Rail Manila Corportation (LRMC) for actively engaging in the project, adding that collaboration between the local government, the private sector, and the national government solidifies trust and helps complete projects faster.

“Kung wala ang local government, walang mangyayari sa proyekto,” he stressed.

“Sa LRMC naman, dumating ang pandemya, hindi kayo huminto and you took the challenge with great stride and a greater resolve. I think it’s just appropriate that we salute LRMC. Pinakita niyo ang pangangailangan na talaga na maganda ang partnership between the local government, private sector, and the national government,” he added.

Delayed for almost 20 years, the 11.7 kilometer LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project is a joint project of the DOTr, the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), and LRMC. The LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project will have eight (8) stations and will connect Baclaran in Parañaque City to Bacoor, Cavite.

As of December 2021, the overall progress rate of Phase 1 of the LRT-1 Cavite Extension Project is at 61.60%.

Once fully operational, the project is expected to cut travel time between Baclaran and Bacoor, Cavite to just 25 minutes, from the present 1 hour and 10 minutes. It will also increase the LRT-1's capacity from 500,000 to 800,000 passengers daily.