SLP equips PDOs with cyber security awareness, Advance Excel

CEBU CITY – Project Development Officers (PDOs) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) in region VII attended the two-day training on cyber security awareness and advanced Excel on January 11-12 at Dauis, Bohol, to enhance the team’s implementation of the department’s various community projects.

According to Regional Program Coordinator, Ma. Rosana Coritico, the program management office deemed it necessary to equip the field staff with appropriate skills and knowledge for projects’ implementation and hopes these PDOx apply these skills in their respective areas for a faster, more accurate and more efficient delivery and implementation of DSWD’s programs for 2024.

The resource persons for the training included information technology officers Von Brian Adlaon, Reymark Lariosa, and March Lamanilao of the Regional Information and Communications Technology Section (RICTS) of the Department of Information, Communication and Technology (DICT-7).

Lamanilao, discussed the importance of cyber security awareness and how to avoid cyber phishing.  He reminded the PDOs not to trust online applications offering free downloads and to always check links and sources before clicking.

"Never trust the free app because, in this free app online, you will be the product, and it will get all your details, which is a risk," Lamanilao warned the participants during his cyber security awareness talk.

According to Garfield Cielo, a PDO assigned in Bohol, the discussion on cyber security is an eye-opener for him to be more cautious, especially when sharing and posting information online.

Cielo added, the 2-day training provided them with hands-on experience in expediting processes like encoding, trimming, pivoting tables, and name-matching of possible program participants.

The session also helped improve their skills in managing data, master files, program trackers, and databases. With these skill enhancements, the regional program management office hoped for a successful project implementation, Cielo noted.

"I have learned a lot. The pivot table in VLookup will be helpful because we do not have to search the names one by one anymore. It will be easy for us to identify and find name duplication, especially the list that comes from other sources," shared Junelyn Siangco, a project development officer assigned in Bohol

PDOs Cathy Bondad assisted Joan Calubag in maneuvering the VLook-up during the workshop.

Reymark Lariosa of the RICTS provided technical assistance to the PDOs from Siquijor province during the hands-on workshop on advanced Excel.  Marvin Uzarraga, a PDO from Siquijor Province, said the resource person provided practical examples and techniques.

The participants expressed that the training enlightened them, especially the discussion on cybersecurity awareness, data protection, and other important information, like hacking and phishing, which are rampant nowadays. (Photos: DSWD7/Kerwin Marcopia)