PBBM urges new DICT chief: Focus on digitalization, cybersecurity

Palace Press Officer Usec. Atty. Claire Castro said in a press briefing on Friday that President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. told the newly-appointed Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda to focus on the administration’s digitalization program, internet connectivity across the country, and cybersecurity amid the campaign season.

“Unang-una po, ang direktiba po ng pangulo sa bagong appointed na DICT secretary ay unang-una po – ang programa ng administrasyon patungkol sa digitalization, pati po ‘yung internet connectivity across the country, and of course – cybersecurity… ang kailangan nating pagtuonan lalo na po ngayong panahon na mayroong pangangampanya,” the press officer told the media.

Former UnionDigital CEO Henry Rhoel Aguda took the oath as the new secretary on March 25 after Marcos appointed him on March 20.

“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed Henry Rhoel R. Aguda, former president and CEO of UnionDigital Bank, as the new secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology,” the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a statement.

The president expressed his confidence in Aguda’s appointment, stating that the digital transformation “will be fast under his leadership.”

“Sa pamumuno ni Secretary Aguda, tiwala akong mas mapapabilis ang digital transformation ng bansa. Hangad nating makinabang ang bawat Pilipino sa mga oportunidad ng makabagong teknolohiya,” Marcos said on a Facebook post.

Aguda previously served as the Digital Infrastructure Lead at the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC), a council created by President Marcos on July 13, 2022 to assist his administration in supporting the achievement of the country’s economic objectives.

He also served as the president and CEO of UnionDigital Bank – subsidiary of Union Bank of the Philippines and one of the six licensed digital banks by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in the country, until his resignation on August 1, 2024.

He also served as the board chairman of both City Savings Bank and UBX Philippines and became the director of Insular Health Care, BancNet, Metaverse Ventures and Platforms and Philippine Clearing House Corp.

The new DICT chief became a senior executive vice president at Union Bank of the Philippines and chief technology officer at Amihan Global Strategies, Globe Telecom, Government Service Insurance System, and Digitel.

Aguda was in charge of software development services at WeServ Systems International, led Nextel's information operations, assistant president at Bayantel Communication Holdings, and managed the corporate data network for the Manila Electric Company.

He earned a degree in mathematics from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman in 1989 and a Juris Doctor from UP Law in 2008 while graduating cum laude in both.

Aguda will replace Ivan Uy who resigned on March 6.