THE most sacred of gatherings—the conclave—was given a new spin as last January 17, 2025. Industry leaders and regulators convened at the Dusit Thani Manila Hotel for the inaugural Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) Philippines Conclave.
The event brought together over 250 executives from various sectors, including Information Technology (IT), Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI), Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), and E-commerce, to explore pressing cybersecurity challenges amid rapid digital transformation.
“It is not only our responsibility to grow our magnitude, but we will make sure that we do it ethically, we do it with utmost integrity, and sustainability is the goal of it,” Salil Sankaran, President of Ampcus Group, opened the conclave by emphasizing the collective responsibility of industry leaders to ensure ethical practices in technology adoption. In his keynote, the emphasized that as organizations increasingly adopt artificial intelligence (AI), the risks associated with data breaches and unauthorized access have escalated.
The event featured a range of keynote speakers and panel discussions aimed at addressing the evolving landscape of cyber threats. Robert Sanchez Paguia, Data Protection Officer at the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), elaborated on common cybersecurity threats facing businesses today. He highlighted issues such as malware, phishing attacks, and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.
Paguia warned that “most companies that suffer from attacks or data breaches… cannot recover anymore; they go bankrupt.” He urged attendees to adopt proactive measures to safeguard their digital assets. He also provided practical tips for online safety, including keeping software updated, using strong passwords, and being cautious about sharing personal information. His insights underscored the importance of individual responsibility in enhancing national cybersecurity efforts.
The discussion continued with Jeffrey Ian Dy, Undersecretary at the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), who noted that AI has lowered barriers for cybercriminals. He reported that the agency monitors between 1.7 to 2 million cyber threats each month.
The DICT chief emphasized that organizations must remain vigilant as malicious actors continue to innovate their tactics.In a panel focused on the banking and fintech sectors, leaders discussed the prevalence of scams and phishing schemes in the Philippines.
The event featured a panel with women pioneers in the cybersecurity and AI space, Mel Migrino (President of WiSAP), Majorie Labindao (AltPaynet) and Arlene Romasanta (Department of Natural Resources). Migrino said that women’s role in the area of GRC will be significant, as AI systems have biases in gender that may be overlooked.
Woman cybersecurity power was in full force with Col. Francel Margareth Padilla-Taborlupa from the Armed Forces of the Philippines speaking about inclusivity in national security efforts. “Walang mahirap o mayaman sa information domain,” emphasizing that everyone has a role in securing the digital space.Ampcus Cyber CEO Deep Chanda encapsulated the event’s spirit by stating, “Companies today cannot just sit in one closed room and talk about security… these events are the best place to get united to share our thoughts,” she said.
“We must continuously tell, inform, advocate, and share” Marlon Sorongon from Maybank Philippines stressed, highlighting the need for actual training for collaboration and continuous education about these threats to people and their money She added that cybercrimes not just for banks or the employees but more importantly for their clients.