The 2024 Digital Philippines report shows that there are 86.98 million internet users in the Philippines – standing an internet penetration rate at 73.6% of the total population, by the start of 2024. This big portion of users is often the underlying reason why the Philippines remain among the top countries with the most number of cyber attacks. To address this and as strengthened by the recent adoption of the country’s National Cybersecurity Plan 2023-2028 last April of 2024, the targeted outcomes for a “Bayang Digital” is anchored in the vision of a trusted, secure and reliable cyberspace for every Filipino. Part of which is the goal of increasing cybersecurity capabilities of the Filipino workforce. Accordingly, the Department of Information and Communications Technology sees the need to equip the people with technical cybersecurity skills at an early age, integrating a culture of awareness and proactiveness amidst the growing and inevitable threats in the cyber space.
To execute this goal, the HackforGov Capture-the-Flag (CTF) Competition for the Academe is held annually as a nationwide cybersecurity competition in the Philippines organized by the Cybersecurity Bureau - Philippine National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-PH) for college students. It is designed to raise the level of awareness among students on the importance of cybersecurity by going beyond traditional educational approaches and providing them with hands-on and immersive experiences by grappling cybersecurity challenges in the virtual world—thus cultivating a generation of cybersecurity champions among today's students.
The competition serves as a platform for students to showcase their expertise in analyzing, identifying and mitigating cybersecurity threats, as well as to exchange knowledge and best practices in cybersecurity defense through a series of challenges and scenarios designed to simulate real-world cyber threats, covering various categories such as network security, web security, cryptography, and incident response.

https://dict.gov.ph/

• Philippines

• Youth
• Students

The HackforGov Capture-the-Flag (CTF) Competition is proven to be replicable to other countries as it has been currently being held amongst all the regions of the Philippines. Annually, a total of sixteen regional HackForGov qualifying rounds are conducted across the country to give equal opportunities to student team members from both the public and private colleges and state universities to showcase their talents and further enhance their cybersecurity capabilities. Annually, it engages over eight hundred student participants nationwide.
Apart from this, each school can replicate and implement a similar competition to train a larger group of students internally within their own jurisdiction and can even be part of their curriculum.
With the continuous conducts organized by the DICT Regional Offices and CERT-PH every year, the organizers monitor the progress of the competition by gathering feedback from the student participants, team coaches, educators and other stakeholders to ensure improvements are incorporated on the forthcoming conduct based on the results of evaluation.

The project exhibits sustainability backed by the National Cybersecurity Plan 2023-2028 spearheaded by the Department of Information and Communications Technology as stipulated in the 2016 Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Republic Act 10844.
Transitioning into a Digital Philippines which gives significance to the safety in cyberspace, public-private partnerships are crucial – involving government collaboration with colleges and universities, aligning each implementation strategies with national cybersecurity priorities and regulatory frameworks; therefore, cultivating the cybersecurity culture in the country.
HackforGov was initially introduced in 2019 but was temporarily halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It resumed in 2023, enabling winners of the final round to represent the Philippines at prestigious international events such as the ASEAN - Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre (AJCCBC) Cyber Sea Games in Bangkok, Thailand, and the ASEAN CyberShield (ACS) Hacking Contest (ACS CON) in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The competition which gives rise to cybersecurity awareness and capabilities among college students demonstrates long-term benefits to the youth which can be brought into adulthood, creating a digitally empowered and safe environment for all. This will not only enhance their technical skills but also cultivate a mindset of responsibility and ethical behavior in the digital realm. As time goes by, the relevance of having digitally literate and secure individuals for online safety is of great impact to ensure the continued success and growth of the nation.
Through this immersive experience, students will emerge as not just skilled professionals but as ethical leaders who understand the importance of shared responsibility in safeguarding the digital world. The competition aims to leave a lasting impact, motivating participants to contribute actively to the resilience and integrity of cybersecurity ecosystems in the Philippines and beyond.

Aligned with the global challenge in the new millennium while we collectively build an inclusive Information Society, the project adheres to building confidence among ICT users and fostering the development of the Information Society by giving significance to reinforcing the trust framework in the government. This involves enhancing aspects such as information and network security, authentication, privacy, and consumer protection through promoting, developing, and implementing a culture of cybersecurity – made possible by a collaborative effort involving relevant stakeholders, individuals, and organizations. By nurturing cybersecurity skills and fostering collaboration, HackForGov not only addresses national security needs but also aligns with global ICT and sustainability frameworks, helping the Philippines move closer to achieving its WSIS and SDG commitments. In the strong belief of having the “people” component as the weakest yet the strongest link that we can have in the field of Cybersecurity, equipping individuals from early ages with knowledge and awareness on the threats in the cyber landscape along with the safety measures and tools that one must continually practice in the digital age is a proactive move to secure the nation’s digital landscape.