DICT Adds Security Layers at ASEAN Summit
Added protections slowed internet connectivity for media delegates at the International Media Center in Pasay City.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Cybersecurity
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The Department of Information and Communication Technology added security layers during the 49th ASEAN Summit in Manila to prevent information breaches and identify unknown threats. The measures slowed internet connectivity for local and foreign media delegates at the International Media Center.
Why it matters
Large international summits draw heavy scrutiny of digital infrastructure, and the trade-off between protection and access is directly felt by the journalists covering them. The episode shows how security protocols designed for one purpose can affect the working conditions of others on site.
Additional security protocols route data through multiple devices, adding processing time at each checkpoint. The arrangement works like a highway with toll gates that review data traveling from one point to another.
The players
Department of Information and Communication Technology
The Philippine government agency responsible for national digital infrastructure, telecommunications policy, and information technology services.
Robert Joseph de Claro
A Philippine public official who commented on the security measures and their effect on connectivity during the summit.
Lino Cayetano
A Philippine public official who commented on the security measures and their effect on connectivity during the summit.
The details
The Department of Information and Communication Technology implemented the added security layers days before the three-day 49th ASEAN Summit with world leaders in Manila. Officials, including Robert Joseph de Claro and Lino Cayetano, commented on the measures and the resulting slowdown at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
Timeline
Days before the summit: internet slowdown reported at the International Media Center.
Three-day period: 49th ASEAN Summit held in Manila.
Big Picture
ASEAN summits have increasingly prompted heightened network security across host-country media facilities, a pattern visible in Malaysia's 2015 summit deployments. The Manila measures extend that regional approach, where protecting sensitive diplomatic communications can come at the cost of speed for the press covering them.
Journalists and delegates at the summit faced slower connections while working on deadline, which can delay the publication of time-sensitive reporting. The episode shows that security layers intended to protect information can also limit how quickly people on site can file and access it.
The takeaway
Security protocols protect information but add processing time that the people using the network feel directly. Planning for connectivity needs alongside security needs can reduce disruption for the press at large events.
Further reading
For related coverage of digital protection measures, explore Cybersecurity reporting on the site.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Inquirer.
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