MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The National Privacy Commission (NPC) will have public consultations on the draft implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Data Privacy Act.

One forum is scheduled for Tuesday, June 28, 3 pm at the Asia Pacific College in Magallanes Village, Makati City, to get comments and recommendations on the draft IRR. 

It will be sponsored by the Philippine Computer Society, said the NPC in a press release.

A second public consultation will be on Wednesday, July 13, from 8 am to 5 pm, at the University of the Philippines-Diliman in Quezon City, announced NPC deputy commissioner Ivy Patdu in a tweet.

The morning session will focus on the draft IRR, while the afternoon session will tackle provisions related to health information and research.

The UP event is sponsored by the UPD Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development, the Knowledge Management and Information Technology Service of the Department of Health, Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, and Foundation for Media Alternatives.

The proposed IRR can be accessed on the government’s Official Gazette.

Enacted into law in 2012, the Data Privacy Act or Republic Act 10173 provides for the protection of the personal information of Filipinos in the IT systems of government and the private sector.

RA 10173 also establishes the National Privacy Commission (NPC) as an independent body to monitor and ensure the compliance of personal information controllers with international standards for data protection.

However, the NPC was formed by President Benigno Aquino III only in March 2016, nearly 4 years after the signing of the law. Soon after, the NPC issued a draft IRR of RA 10173.

“We’re doing more with less. These things cannot wait. We have to hit the ground running,” said NPC Commissioner Raymund Liboro. “We hope that this will really generate interest, and it will galvanize stakeholders in participating as it concerns data privacy [which affects everyone].”

He also noted that the health and business process outsourcing (BPO) sectors have expressed interest in raising awareness in data privacy issues, as well as contributing inputs for the IRR.

Liboro said that more consultations may take place, due to the willingness of other groups to sponsor a public forum on the draft IRR. 

Liboro said the NPC – including deputy commissioners Ivy Patdu and Dondi Mapa – aims to raise awareness on data privacy in their first year, ensure compliance of data controllers in their second year, and strictly enforce related laws in their 3rd year.

Those who are interested to participate in the public consultation on June 28 may confirm their attendance through 0922-891-0148. 

Meanwhile, attendees for the July 13 event can sign up online.

The public may also send comments on the draft IRR to info@privacy.gov.ph. – Rappler.com