The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is calling for stronger cooperation among government, law enforcement, financial institutions, businesses, and consumers as cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated and interconnected.
The call came during the 4th BPI CyberProtect Conference, held on July 30 at Fairmont Makati and themed “Defend as One: Building a United Front Towards Consumer Protection.”
BPI gathered more than 250 participants from government agencies, law enforcement, the banking industry, academe, the private sector, and consumer groups, including students and senior citizens.
Rather than treating cybersecurity as the responsibility of individual institutions, the event focused on coordinated approaches to fraud prevention, data protection, cybercrime investigation, and consumer awareness.
BPI highlights three pillars of cyber defense
BPI President and CEO TG Limcaoco said a resilient digital ecosystem depends on three key pillars: strong institutions, informed consumers, and active collaboration.
“Strong institutions continuously invest in systems and safeguards. Informed consumers serve as the first line of defense. Active collaboration brings together government, regulators, law enforcement, industry, and communities to address threats that no organization can solve alone,” Limcaoco said.
He added that cybersecurity has expanded beyond the traditional boundaries of information technology.
“Cybersecurity today is not simply an IT issue. It is a consumer issue, a business issue, and increasingly, a national issue. Our response must be just as interconnected as the risks we face,” he said.
Government and industry leaders join cybersecurity discussions
The conference featured speakers from government, regulatory agencies, law enforcement, and the private sector, including Limcaoco, BSP Deputy Governor Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Rhoel R. Aguda, and National Privacy Commission Chairman Atty. Johann Carlos S. Barcena.
Discussions covered the gap between cybersecurity policy and implementation, national cybersecurity, data privacy, and stronger coordination among stakeholders protecting consumers in the digital economy.
The event also featured specialized breakout sessions for industry representatives, BPI employees, and law enforcement personnel.
Topics included scam awareness, fraud prevention, cybercrime investigation, and consumer protection, giving participants opportunities to exchange practical approaches to addressing digital threats.
CyberProtect expands as threats evolve
The 2026 conference also introduced a dedicated CyberAcademy session for law enforcement, alongside specialized industry discussions. It comes as BPI marks its 175th anniversary, with the bank positioning CyberProtect as part of its broader effort to promote cybersecurity awareness and shared responsibility.
The conference has also grown steadily since its launch. Attendance increased from 183 participants in 2023 to 215 in 2024, before reaching 250 participants in 2025.
This reflects the increasing focus on consumer protection as digital fraud and cyber threats become more complex.
For BPI, strengthening the country’s digital defenses requires more than better technology. It also means equipping consumers with the knowledge to recognize threats and bringing institutions together to respond to risks that cross organizational boundaries.
By encouraging collaboration among government, industry, law enforcement, and consumers, CyberProtect aims to contribute to a safer and more resilient digital environment for Filipinos.
