30/10/2026
COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Information and Communications Technology Office (BICTO) successfully conducted the 1st BARMM Cybersecurity Conference 2026 on October 29, 2026, at the KCC Mall of Cotabato, Cotabato City, as one of the major highlights of the celebration of the 1st BARMM Cybersecurity Month 2026, with the theme “CYBER BARMM 2026: Building Cyber Resilience, Securing a Safer Digital Region.” The conference brought together representatives from various Bangsamoro Ministries, Offices, and Agencies (BMOAs), local government units (LGUs), academic institutions, private organizations, ICT professionals, and cybersecurity stakeholders to strengthen cybersecurity awareness, promote knowledge-sharing, and foster institutional collaboration in addressing emerging digital threats. The activity served as a platform for meaningful discussions on cybersecurity challenges, technological advancements, and practical approaches to protecting digital infrastructure, government systems, and the communities they serve.
In his welcome and opening remarks, BICTO Executive Director II Jonathan M. Mantikayan, Ph.D.IT, emphasized the importance of collective responsibility in safeguarding the Bangsamoro's growing digital environment, particularly as government institutions continue to adopt technology-driven systems and services. He underscored that cybersecurity must be recognized not merely as a technical concern but as a shared institutional and societal responsibility requiring awareness, preparedness, and cooperation among government agencies, private institutions, and the public. “𝘊𝘺𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺,” Director Mantikayan emphasized.
His message reinforced the need to integrate cybersecurity considerations into the region's digital transformation initiatives while encouraging participating institutions to strengthen their respective cybersecurity measures and contribute to building a more secure and resilient Bangsamoro.
Meanwhile, Cotabato City Mayor Mohammad Ali “Bruce” C. Matabalao, in his message of support, highlighted the increasing reliance of communities and institutions on digital technologies and the corresponding responsibility to ensure the security of information, systems, and online services. “𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦,” Mayor Matabalao emphasized.
The conference also featured technical presentations from cybersecurity professionals and industry experts, including PCOL Rainier P. Diaz, Chief of the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit–BARMM, Philippine National Police, who discussed Cybercrime Prevention and Digital Safety: A Law Enforcement Perspective; Adrian Go, Senior Solutions Engineer of Cyble, Inc., who presented Dark Web Monitoring and Fraud Prevention: Rethinking Digital Risk Protection in the High-Exposure Economy; Joshua Mark Moldez, Presales Manager of Sangfor Technologies Inc., who discussed Security Beyond the Perimeter: Protecting Data, Applications, Users, and Connections; and John Philip Estranero, System Engineer of MEC Network Corporation, who shared insights on From Cyber Threats to Cyber Resilience.
The conference featured seven (7) technology and cybersecurity exhibitors from partner institutions and organizations, namely Manstronix Innovation Hub; Sangfor Technologies, Inc.; Cyble, Inc.; MEC Network Corporation; the Philippine National Police Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit–BARMM (PNP RACU-BAR); Glimpse-DC Electronics Incorporated; and Borderless Software Publishing and Trading Corporation. The exhibition provided participants with opportunities to explore cybersecurity technologies, digital security solutions, and innovations relevant to protecting information systems and strengthening organizational preparedness against cyber threats.
Through these exhibits and engagements with industry representatives, participants gained additional exposure to available cybersecurity tools, emerging technologies, and potential areas of collaboration between government institutions and private-sector technology providers in advancing a more secure digital environment across the Bangsamoro region.
A major highlight of the afternoon session was the Panel Discussion titled “Securing the Bangsamoro Digital Frontier: Building a Cyber-Resilient BARMM,” which gathered cybersecurity experts and practitioners from law enforcement, government, and the private sector. The discussion featured PCOL Rainier P. Diaz; Engr. Hannah Grace M. Parcon, Cybersecurity Project Focal of DICT Region XII; Adrian Go of Cyble, Inc.; and Joshua Mark Moldez of Sangfor Technologies Inc., with Joehaima Kali-Jul, MIT, MIM, Program Head of the Computer Studies Department, College of Engineering and Computer Studies of Notre Dame University, serving as moderator.
The panel provided an opportunity for the discussants to share their professional experiences, practical cybersecurity approaches, and insights on emerging cyber threats, emphasizing the importance of prevention, preparedness, incident response, and interagency coordination. Through the exchange of perspectives and experiences, the discussion further enhanced participants' understanding of cybersecurity risks and highlighted the value of collective action in strengthening the region's digital security and resilience.
In his closing message, Mohajiren B. Diang, MSc.IT, Chief of BICTO's ICT Infrastructure and Services Division, expressed his appreciation to the speakers, panel discussants, exhibitors, partner institutions, participating government agencies, and other stakeholders whose contributions supported the successful conduct of the conference. He acknowledged their participation and cooperation in advancing cybersecurity awareness and strengthening partnerships across the Bangsamoro.
The successful conduct of the 1st BARMM Cybersecurity Conference 2026 marks an important milestone in BICTO's continuing efforts to promote cybersecurity education, institutional preparedness, and collaborative digital governance. As the Bangsamoro Government advances its digital transformation agenda, BICTO remains committed to working with government institutions, industry partners, academic communities, and other stakeholders to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities, protect digital systems, and promote a digitally connected, secure, inclusive, and resilient Bangsamoro. (KME/Information)
We Make IT Happen in the Bangsamoro.
