The Philippines and Singapore agreed to share best practices in personal data protection and develop compatible mechanisms to facilitate trusted cross border data flows including mutual recognition of comparable protection afforded by their respective laws to safeguard both Philippines and Singapore citizens.

The Philippines’ National Privacy Commission (NPC) represented by Commissioner Raymund Enriquez Liboro and Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) represented by Commissioner Tan Kiat How signed the Memorandum of Understanding recently. The MoU aims to reaffirm and strengthen the working relationship between the two countries to improve personal data protection and foster trust in cross border data flows.

The document marks the first data protection-related MoU signed between the two Asean member states.

Liboro stated that this collaboration would further ensure that the Philippines and Singapore would continue to strengthen its partnership when it comes to data protection.

“With the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, the Philippines and Singapore envision exchanges of information and best practices to foster innovation. We will also work on mutual assistance in data privacy enforcement. This is a reaffirmation of both the Philippines’ and Singapore’s recognition of the importance of data governance and cross-border data flows to global trade in a digital economy,” Liboro said.

“Singapore is pleased to continue fostering closer collaborations with partners such as the Philippines to drive a robust data protection regime crucial to promoting and safeguarding cross border data flows that are the lifeblood of the digital economy. Our work will include developing mechanisms to facilitate cross-border data flow, such as the APEC Cross-Border Privacy Rules and Asean Cross-Border Data Flows Mechanism, and best practices to enable data innovation, through the use of data sharing sandboxes,” Tan said.

In the MoU, both countries have committed to cooperate in the areas of mutual exchange of information and joint enforcement actions.