PEÑABLANCA, Cagayan — Farmers and irrigators’ associations in Cagayan Valley can expect faster and more secure transactions with the government as the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Region II strengthens its digital security systems.

NIA Region II, in partnership with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Region II, held an orientation on the Philippine National Public Key Infrastructure (PNPKI) digital signature on Oct. 5 at theIA regional office in Camasi, Peñablanca, Cagayan.

The adoption of digital signatures and certificates is expected to help secure electronic documents exchanged between NIA and its stakeholders, including farmer-beneficiaries, by ensuring that documents are properly authenticated and protected from unauthorized changes.

For farmers who transact with NIA and its field offices, stronger digital safeguards can mean greater confidence in electronic submissions and communications, while digital processing can help minimize delays caused by the handling, routing, and verification of physical documents.

The orientation sought to equip NIA employees with knowledge of the proper use of digital signatures and secure digital practices, a step that precedes any change in how farmers and irrigators’ groups actually transact with the agency day to day.

NIA Region II Regional Manager Raymundo B. Apil said “their continuing digitalization efforts are seeking to provide faster, safer and more responsive government services.”

“By strengthening the security of our electronic transactions,” Mr. Apil added, “we make our services more accessible and reliable for the farmers and communities who depend on irrigation support for their livelihoods.”

The PNPKI is the national digital certification framework implemented by the DICT, the government’s lead agency for information and communications technology. Digital certificates issued under the framework authenticate the identity of signatories and confirm the integrity of electronic documents, supporting the legal recognition of electronic transactions under Republic Act No. 8792, or the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000.

The NIA is the government agency responsible for the development and management of irrigation systems across the Philippines. Its Region II office covers the Cagayan Valley, one of the country’s leading agricultural regions, where rice and corn are among the principal crops and irrigation support underpins many farm livelihoods.

Source: BusinessWorld

— Artemio A. Dumlao, BusinessWorld