Phl, Canada boost cyber defense ties in Singapore meet

The Philippines and Canada have reaffirmed their growing cybersecurity partnership, with both nations pledging closer collaboration in cyber defense during a high-level bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Digital Defense Symposium 2025 in Singapore.

Department of National Defense (DND) spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arsenio Andolong said the July 22 meeting focused on enhancing joint efforts in information-sharing and capacity-building to strengthen both countries’ digital defenses.

Representing the Philippines, Atty. Odessa Rossilyz Magisa—officer-in-charge of the DND’s Office for Information Security—met with Canada’s Director of Domains and Technology Policy, Mr. Hani Nasser, to explore practical areas of cooperation.

“This bilateral engagement is part of the broader defense partnership between the Philippines and Canada, anchored on the MOU on Defense Cooperation signed in January 2024,” Andolong said.

The partnership has been gaining momentum with the recent conclusion of negotiations for a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) in March, and a high-level bilateral cyber working group meeting held in Manila earlier this month.

The Digital Defense Symposium 2025 is one of the major events under the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Cybersecurity and Information Center of Excellence (ACICE), which serves as a regional platform for cyber collaboration.