IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay — Young Sibugaynons are being equipped to become responsible digital citizens in a world where information spreads at lightning speed and online dangers lurk behind every click.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Zamboanga Sibugay rolled out its Cybersecurity Information Caravan this week — a campaign aimed at promoting digital empowerment, media literacy, and cybersecurity awareness among students. It also tackled the growing menace of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC).
More than 160 students from Sibugay Technical Institute Inc., Dr. Aurelio Mendoza Memorial Colleges, University of Zamboanga–Ipil Campus, and Western Mindanao State University–Ipil Campus took part in interactive workshops designed to sharpen their ability to spot misinformation, protect their digital identities, and uphold ethical behavior online.
For Mark Ruelson Gacutan, DICT’s provincial officer for Zamboanga Sibugay, the campaign is as much about awareness as it is about vigilance.
“We should not only practice safety in the physical world but also exercise caution in the online world,” Gacutan reminded participants.
Guarding against digital deception
The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) joined the caravan to share its Media and Information Literacy (MIL) campaign, which focuses on cultivating critical thinking and encouraging responsible media consumption. Students learned to question what they see online, verify sources, and recognize misinformation and disinformation.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Cybercrime Unit and the Zamboanga Sibugay Provincial Police Office highlighted the dangers of online exploitation and data theft. They urged young internet users to be proactive in protecting personal data and to report suspicious online behavior.
Building a culture of digital responsibility
For the DICT, the caravan is part of a wider advocacy to ensure that communities, especially the youth, are prepared to navigate an increasingly digital world.
DICT Region 9 Director Cheryl Ortega expressed full support for the effort, saying it aligns with the government’s push for a digitally literate and secure citizenry.
“This initiative builds not just skills but a culture of responsibility in the digital space,” Ortega said.
Empowering Sibugaynons in the digital era
The Cybersecurity Information Caravan underscored the need to bridge the gap between connectivity and safety. As the internet becomes central to education, work, and communication, digital literacy has become a basic life skill.
Through activities like this, the DICT hopes to make the online world a safer space — starting with informed and empowered young people who can think critically, protect themselves, and stand as digital stewards in their communities.
The caravan, officials said, reflects President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vision of a digitally inclusive and secure Philippines, one where technology becomes a tool for progress rather than exploitation.
In Zamboanga Sibugay, that vision begins with the youth — learning not only to click, but to think.
(Photo Courtesy: PIA-Zamboanga Sibugay)
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