DPO Report on National Privacy Awareness Week 2023

Date: May 25, 2023

Time: 09:00H – 18:00H
Venue: Okada Manila Grand Ballroom

The Privacy Awareness Week (PAW) is an annual gathering of data privacy practitioners and
professionals, celebrated through Proclamation No. 527 series of 2018. As practitioners and
professionals in the industry present their best practices, ideas, and initiatives to increase data privacy
and compliance in the Philippines, the event offers a chance to learn more about data privacy and
network with subject-matter experts.

By focusing on the theme "Empowering DPOs and Protecting Personal Data Privacy Rights of Filipinos,"
the National Privacy Commission (NPC) hopes to draw attention to the crucial function that Data
Protection Officers (DPOs) play in encouraging responsible use of personal information and safeguarding
Filipinos' data privacy rights.

The publication of NPC Circular No. 2022-03, the Guidelines for Private Security Agencies on the Proper
Handling of Customer and Visitor Information, was mentioned in the report. The Commissioner stated
that this circular ensures the safety and security of the personal information of clients, guests, and other
data subjects handled by private security agencies as part of their security services.

The following session featured a presentation on Data Privacy Tone from the Top: Benefits of
Institutionalizing Data Privacy in an Organization by four (4) CEOs from Aboitiz, RCBC, Concentrix, and
Straits. All of the presenters emphasized that businesses should consider data privacy not just from a
regulatory standpoint but also as fundamentally addressing a need. Also mentioned was the fallacy that
DPOs are a showstopper. DPOs are not showstoppers in implementing business. A DPO should handle
privacy threats as a business enabler.

The DPO Council Members and Sector Officers were introduced at the afternoon session. The Sector
Officers for Private Security Agencies were Mr. John Michael Godoyo and Ms. Mary Sheryl Matias of King
Henry Security & Investigation Agency, Inc. Four DPOs from PAGCOR, Insurance organization of North
America, Concentrix, and PrivaLex were asked to speak as guests to provide their perspectives on what a
DPO does at work and best practices related to data subject rights that our organization may also use.