The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) on Tuesday, Dec. 5, inked a partnership to bolster their cybersecurity initiatives.

MMDA requested the CICC’s technical assistance on the conduct of information communications technology (ICT) security, cybercrime resilience, and data protection assessments of the agency’s critical information infrastructure (CII).

MMDA chair Romando Artes noted working with the CICC, relevant government agencies, and private sector organizations in creating initiatives about cybersecurity and anti-cybercrime planning and policy formulation.

“We are very thankful to the CICC for their assistance in ensuring that appropriate and effective cybercrime risk mitigation measures are in place,” he said, emphasizing the significance of cybercrime resilience in the face of rapid technological advances.

Artes underscored that cyber protection is vital to the agency as it handles data from recorded video footage of apprehensions and major thoroughfares.

“Our partnership with the CICC will aid in safeguarding these crucial data that we handle daily as we remain committed to our vision of a safe and livable metropolis,” he added.

Meanwhile, the CICC said it would help MMDA in its key digitalization projects and achieve the mitigation of cybersecurity and cybercrime risks.

CICC is under the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) which is mandated to fight cybercrime and promote cybercrime awareness among the public.

Several government websites were earlier hit by cyberattacks, with some leading to a possible breach of data.