Establish the UP Cybersecurity Center. This was one of the resolutions passed by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in its 40th Alumni Council Meeting Nov. 12. The gathering of alumni chapter representatives at Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman called on the university to create the center — a hub envisioned to be the country’s leading institution for cybersecurity education, research, and innovation.
The assembly’s discussion centered on “Securing Our Future: Advancing Cybersecurity Education and Talent Development in the Philippines.” The state of and gaps in cybersecurity education and workforce readiness in the country were points of discourse, and possible ways to address issues in these areas were also explored.
Central to the meeting was the presentation of a resolution urging the university to establish the UP Cybersecurity Center, which will serve as the country’s leading institution for cybersecurity education, research, and innovation.
UPAA President and Alumni Regent Robert Lester Aranton emphasized UP’s role as the country’s national university to take action on national concerns such as cybersecurity. “Securing our future is not only about protecting systems and networks. … It is about developing the next generation of Filipinos — cybersecurity professionals who will safeguard our nation’s digital frontier, advance innovation, and uphold the values of integrity, service, and excellence that define the UP community.”
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, represented by Undersecretary Leonardo Roy Cervantes, expressed support for the proposed center, saying it can “guide national policy … and nurture a generation of Filipino cybersecurity defenders.”
Attendees also shared their insights in a panel discussion.
UPAA Legal Counsel and UP Alumni Council Resolutions Committee Chairman Raul Reyes presented the submitted resolution.
In response to the council’s resolution, UP President Angelo Jimenez stated that the university has been at the forefront of advancing cybersecurity education in the Philippines. UP-led initiatives include the establishment of the first professional course on digital governance and cybersecurity in 2021; the creation of the UP Office of the Vice President for Digital Transformation in 2025; and UP’s tenth Flagship Program on digital transformation.
UPAA Third Vice President Fernando Sanchez Jr. concluded the event, calling for leaders to “translate ideas into concrete actions.”
