Aimed to equip Filipinos with the necessary skills to face cybersecurity threats, the Philippines now has a published competency standard for Computer Security Incident Handling through the power of TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) Circular Numbers 37 and 38, Series of 2021.
The competencies published by TESDA outlines the qualifications a person needs to achieve in providing an appropriate response to an event or incident, ensure efficient escalation and ticketing, and uphold the privacy and confidentiality of all stakeholders involved. Upon completion of the necessary training and passing the required assessment, course completers will receive a National Certificate (NC) and may be considered for positions of Computer Security Incident Handler (L1), Computer Security Support Staff, or Computer Security Help Desk Staff.
Outlining the Implementing Guidelines on the deployment of Competency Standards (CS) for Computer Security Incident Handling I and II, no less than TESDA Director General Isidro S. Lapeña gave the written instructions for the immediate implementation of this prescription. A scholarship provision for training subsidy was also mentioned in DG Lapeña’s directive.
From December 2019 to March 2021, a small group of handpicked individuals representing the sectors of the academe, business, related industries, and government agencies concerned had been quietly developing these competency standards.
The people behind the development and validation of the Training Regulations for Computer Security Incident Handling I and II are Niña Ana Marie Jocelyn Sales, Ph.D. of De La Salle University, Joseph Felix Pacamara of CSP-CERT, Breyvan Tan and Judy Saw of EC-Council, Independent Researcher Flordeliza Fernandez, Manila Bulletin Technology Editor Art Samaniego, Jr. and yours truly, representing the global non-profit Mozilla.
Also part of the Technical Experts Panel is Ricardo Navalta of the US Department of Homeland Security; Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officers Maj. Carlos Ely Tingson, Maj. Gil Tario II, Capt. Quirinius Perez, Ltc. Ramedinthine Tolentino; Philippine National Police (PNP) officers PCol. Bernard Yang, PCol. Nestor Babagay, Jr.; Engr. George Tardio of DICT’s CERT-PH, Christian Andrew Ibasco of the Department of Justice (DOJ), and Moslemen Macarambon, Jr. from the National Privacy Commission (NPC).
The Competency Standards (CS) for Computer Security Incident Handling I and II are available at the TESDA website.