On 13th October, ECPAT Philippines and the Department of Information and Communications Technology - Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center signed a Memorandum of Understanding to operate a Philippine INHOPE Hotline.

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) is an attached agency of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). DICT is responsible for the provision of information systems which support governmental decision-making service provision. CICC was created upon the approval of Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and its purpose is to prevent, suppress and prosecute cybercrime through effective institutional policies, programs and directives.

Through the DICT-CICC the Philippines can now triage an efficient response to reports from the public.

The hotline will be the first internet hotline in the Philippines and they are due to apply for provisional membership for INHOPE during the next Annual General Meeting.

Read the full press release here.