Former privacy chief Liboro receives PHILAAST IT award

• IN PHOTO: Former Privacy Commissioner Raymund Liboro receiving the Ramon Y. Dimacali Award for Information Technology from the Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology (PHILAAST)

Former Privacy Commissioner Raymund Liboro has received the Ramon Y. Dimacali Award for Information Technology from the Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology (PHILAAST), recognizing his contributions to science, technology, digital governance, and innovation.

The recognition comes as PHILAAST marks its 75th anniversary, celebrating Filipino scientists, technologists, innovators, and leaders who have contributed to the advancement of science and technology in the country.

Liboro served as the Philippines’ first Privacy Commissioner from 2016 to 2022, overseeing the implementation of the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and the development of the National Privacy Commission as the country’s primary data privacy regulator.

Before his stint at the commission, Liboro was involved in several initiatives under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

At the DOST-Science and Technology Information Institute, he helped lead the development of STARBOOKS, an offline digital science library designed to provide scientific and educational resources to schools and communities, including areas with limited internet connectivity.

As of June 24, 2025, STARBOOKS had reached more than 9,200 deployment sites nationwide. The program also received the 2022 Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award under the Civil Service Commission’s Honor Awards Program, which was formally presented at Malacañang in March 2023.

Liboro also contributed to DOST’s Project NOAH, an initiative that brought together researchers, government agencies, and scientific institutions to use research and real-time information for disaster risk reduction and preparedness.

During his six-year term at the National Privacy Commission, Liboro worked on strengthening privacy and data protection practices as the Philippines expanded its use of digital services and platforms.

He currently serves through Privacy and Security by Design, Inc. and TrustSystems, Inc., where his work covers privacy-enabled digital platforms, artificial intelligence, geospatial intelligence, and trust technologies for sectors including government, health, education, and public administration.

The Ramon Y. Dimacali Award comes as PHILAAST, led by its president and former DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña, celebrates 75 years of promoting science and technology in the Philippines.

The organization said the recognition also reflects emerging challenges facing the country’s technology sector, including artificial intelligence, digital trust, data governance, resilience, and the responsible use of emerging technologies.