The Philippines kicked off I AM SECURE 2026 on 18 March. The event marks the ninth year of the national cybersecurity platform. It brings together government agencies, businesses and tech firms. The theme is “Soaring High: Future Ready in the Age of Intelligent Threats.”
The launch was held at a press conference in Manila. Secretary Henry Aguda of the Department of Information and Communications Technology attended. Other officials included Robert Paguia of the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla of the Armed Forces, Colonel Roland Ong of the Philippine Army Reserve, Police Brigadier General Wilson C. Asueta of the Anti‑Cybercrime Group and Police Colonel Jay Guillermo of the PNP Cyber Response Unit. They urged a whole‑of‑nation approach to cyber defense. They said the government will boost data protection, law‑enforcement capabilities and digital infrastructure.
Industry leaders called for tighter collaboration. “Cybersecurity today is a shared responsibility across all sectors. Strengthening collaboration is key to ensuring that we are prepared to address increasingly intelligent threats,” said Chito Jacinto, president of the Information Security Officers Group (ISOG). He added, “Much like the concept of an omniverse—where multiple worlds, systems, and realities converge—today’s digital landscape is deeply interconnected. Threats no longer exist in isolation. I AM SECURE 2026 sets the stage for bringing together government, enterprises, and technology leaders to operate as one unified ecosystem, strengthening our collective defense in this increasingly complex environment.”
Alvin Punsalan, ISOG vice‑president, said, “We continue to expand ISOG’s reach across industries to ensure that cybersecurity awareness and capabilities are embedded at every level of the organization. As threats become more complex and interconnected, our organization remains committed to strengthening collaboration, upskilling the workforce, and empowering organizations to adopt proactive and resilient security strategies that can keep pace with the evolving threat landscape.”
Xiameer Valdeavilla, CEO of XMS and I AM SECURE partner, said, “I AM SECURE 2026 is a platform for collaboration and innovation that enables organizations to become future‑ready. It also strengthens the Philippines’ position as a hub for high‑value MICE engagements within the growing cybersecurity market projected to exceed US$269 million, according to Statista Market Insights while supporting the country’s expanding digital economy valued at over US$35 billion based on industry estimates.”
Pam Valmonte, head of I AM SECURE and operations manager of XMS, said, “The strength of I AM SECURE 2026 lies in its ability to deliver meaningful, year‑round engagements. Each initiative from CXO Connect to ISOGx is designed to create impact by enabling knowledge exchange, fostering collaboration, and driving actionable cybersecurity strategies across industries.”
The 2026 series will run throughout the year. CXO Connect Series 1 takes place on 17 June. CXO Connect Series 2 follows on 5 August. The ISOGx Conference Season 4 is scheduled for October at the SMX Convention Center in Bonifacio Global City.
The initiative enjoys strong backing from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the Philippine Clearing House Corporation and the Department of Finance. It is also supported by ISACA Manila Chapter, ITIP, ISC2, Cloud Security Alliance, the Cybersecurity Council of the Philippines, the Bank Security Management Association, the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines, ROOTCON and TG Group.
Titanium sponsors include F5 (via Westcon), NMI, Rapid7, Datadog (via Netsec) and Infoblox. Platinum sponsors are Forcepoint, Varonis (via Westcon) and Exabeam. Gold sponsors include Gigamon (via MEC and MTech), Broadcom (via Westcon) and Menlo Security (via Netsec and VST‑ECS). Netsec is the silver sponsor.
I AM SECURE 2026 aims to unify the nation’s cyber defenses. It seeks to help the Philippines stay safe as cyber threats become smarter and more pervasive.
