Data privacy celebration sought in Baguio

AWARENESS in data privacy is being advocated by Baguio City Councilor Arthur Allad-iw.

In a proposed law, the alderman is pushing to declare the last week of May of every year to celebrate national data privacy awareness week in the city.

“Privacy is a fundamental human right, enshrined in numerous international human rights instruments and domestic laws. It is central to the protection of human dignity and forms the basis of any democratic society. It also supports and reinforces other rights, such as freedom of expression, information and association,” Allad-iw said.

The new law aims to institutionalize the celebration of the National Data Privacy Awareness Week every last week of May in the city and makes it a regular activity of the city government assuring its observance as well as funding needed for the implementation of its programs and weeklong activities.

Allad-iw said President Rodrigo Duterte signed on July 3 Proclamation No. 527 declaring every last week of May as National Data Privacy Awareness Week.

“There is a need to inform and educate the public about data privacy, data protection, and fair information rights and responsibilities as part of reinforcing the efforts of the National Privacy Commission in protecting personal data and ensuring the Philippines’ compliance with international standards for data protection,” the proclamation reads.

The local government units and the private sector are likewise encouraged to participate in the activities.

Under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, data privacy protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, and renders inviolable the privacy of communication and correspondence in Section 2; The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures of whatever nature and for any purpose shall be inviolable, and no search warrant or warrant of arrest shall issue except upon probable cause to be determined personally by the judge after examination under oath or affirmation of the complainant and the witnesses he may produce, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.