SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is urging Antiqueños to be responsible digital citizens by posting factual information and non-malicious views or beliefs in their Facebook accounts.

This was underscored by DICT Antique Provincial Director Joemar Magbanua during their two forums conducted as part of the National Cybersecurity Month observance in Region 6 held in Antique province.

“Before posting anything on your Facebook, always think first how it would affect the public,” Magbanua said in an interview on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the DICT had a forum with students from the University of Antique and with information officers (IOs), and on Thursday with the media at the DICT Antique Provincial Office in San Jose de Buenavista.

Magbanua said they would like to have a wider reach, down to the grassroots, so people could avoid posting defamatory comments or sowing misinformation or disinformation that could make them liable for cyber libel.

Meanwhile, Roy Zabala, head of the DICT Regional Office 6 Cybersecurity Unit, said that most of the complaints they receive pertain to online scams.

“It is good that there will be a Cybersecurity Unit that is now being put up at the Antique Provincial Police Office (APPO) so that the complainants no longer have to go to the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 in Iloilo City to complain,” Zabala said in a separate interview.

He explained that DICT has no apprehension power, so complainants have to go to the Philippine National Police or the National Bureau of Investigation.

The forum for IOs and members of the media was facilitated by the Philippine Information Agency - Antique.

PNA PHOTO