As threats to telecom infrastructure escalate—from cable theft to cyberattacks—the National Telecommunications Security Council (NTSC) is evolving into a full-fledged national defense body, uniting telcos and state forces in a historic security push.
To achieve this, the council is eyeing to expand its membership beyond the private sector to include key government and law enforcement agencies such as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
The NTSC is an industry-wide alliance of corporate security professionals representing the country’s major telecommunications companies, including PLDT Inc., Smart Communications, Inc., Globe Telecom, DITO Telecommunity, Converge ICT Solutions, ABS-CBN/Sky Cable, tower companies, and other stakeholders. In a recent consultation forum, NTSC members joined military and police officials to explore ways to enhance collaboration for law enforcement and emergency response.
Leading the discussions were Col Wilfredo F. Gonio (Ret), Head of Security Central Command and Administration Center at PLDT; Col Romeo M. Basco (Ret), Director of Security at DITO Telecommunity and NTSC Chair; Lt Gen Ramiro Manuel S Rey (Ret), VP & Head of Security at Converge ICT Solutions; Joselito Tan of Globe Telecom Security; and Leodivico A Bungubung, VP for Corporate Security at ABS-CBN/Sky Cable, who discussed the threats they face in their respective operations, including theft and vandalism, fraudulent activities and cyberattacks with the government representatives present.
“The task before us is not just technical—it is strategic and national in scope. We need to move from isolated reactions to coordinated responses, from reactive risk management to proactive intelligence-sharing and policy alignment,” said Smart Chief Operating Officer Anastacio R. Martirez in his keynote message. “Let us remember that no single entity, government or private, can address these threats alone. But together, through trust, coordination, and shared responsibility, we can build a more secure digital future for the Filipino people.”
“In addition to the expansion of the council’s membership, we at the NTSC are also eyeing the development of a coordination framework for threat response with our partners in government, as well as establishing regular consultation schedules for improved information sharing, enhanced security measures for critical infrastructure, and better rapid response protocols, especially in the event of emergencies,” said PLDT’s Col Gonio. “We will also support joint training and awareness programs against cyberattacks,” he added.
“More than just a corporate responsibility, network security is a cornerstone of nation-building,” said Butch G. Jimenez, PLDT Chief Operating Officer. “At PLDT, we commit to work hand in hand with our industry peers and government partners to secure our telco infrastructure and ensure a robust and resilient network, which is vital to economic progress.”
The NTSC was spearheaded by the PLDT Asset Protection and Security Risk Governance (APSRG) team in June 2021 for the mutual protection of telco infrastructure nationwide. PLDT and Smart’s stepped-up asset protection initiatives support PLDT’s mission to deliver reliable service and advance the Philippines’ sustainable development by securing critical telecom infrastructure, and thereby ensuring uninterrupted connectivity for homes, businesses, education, and emergency response. These efforts align with the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, promoting resilient infrastructure and technological progress through strategic security measures and strong community partnerships.
