Philippines issues first government data residency framework

The Philippines has announced Executive Order No. 119, the country’s first explicit data residency framework for government data.

• The order classifies government information into Restricted Access Data and Open Access Data, requires the most sensitive tiers to be stored within Philippine territory, and extends obligations to private companies handling government data in public-private partnerships, public services, utilities, critical infrastructure, and strategic or sensitive projects.
• A newly created Joint Oversight Committee for Data Classification, co-chaired by the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the National Security Council, will issue implementing guidelines within 120 days; agencies must complete capacity building and data inventory in year one, meet Top Secret/Secret requirements in year two, and achieve full compliance in year three.
• The article is explanatory analysis about the implications of the order for infrastructure planning, cloud, AI, and compliance teams; it references Digital Edge’s Philippine facilities and data center readiness but does not announce a new Digital Edge project.