The Department of Social Welfare and Development conducted a stakeholder’s forum on December 13, Wednesday at Metropolis Suites Davao City.

The forum aims to share the result of the household assessment survey conducted last May 2015 to January 20, 2016 and to educate the participants about the Data Sharing Protocol & Data Privacy Act of 2012 or Republic Act 10173.

“We also want them to understand why they need to have a memorandum of agreement once they want to request a sensitive data because they might go to prison if someone (who is not in the moa) will know about it,” said Mae P. Valentin Regional Field Coordinator on the sides during the Stakeholders Forum.

This was attended by 30 participants from national government agencies such as Commission on Higher Education, Department of Health, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Provincial Local Government Unit and Non- Government Organizations.

“We only look into agencies who have social programs,” said Valentin.

The guideline in sharing the data gathered from the Listahanan (Memorandum Circular 12 Series of 2017) was discussed during the forum.

It’s objective is to serve basis in prioritizing the poor as beneficiaries of Social Protection Programs. It aims to establish a systematic way of data sharing, ensure data security mechanisms are in pace and increase coordination between agencies.

RA 10173 is a law that protects individual personal information stored and communication system of the government and the private sector or Data Privacy Act, Executive Order 2 Series of 2016 which prescribes the procedure that will guide public officials in operationalizing full public disclosure and transparency in the public service and NAP General Circulars Nos. 1 and 2 which prescribes the rules and regulations governing the Management of Public Records.

The penalties for violation of RA 10173 range from imprisonment of six months to seven years in prison and a fine ranging from P500,000 to P 8 million, depending on the gravity and frequency of the crime committed. (Edge Davao)