President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and all government agencies to be on high alert against potential cyberattacks expected on November 5.

The directive was announced by Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro during a Palace briefing on November 4, 2025.

According to Castro, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda conveyed the President’s instructions, emphasizing the need for vigilance and preparedness amid possible distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.

“The President directed DICT and all cyber teams in government to be vigilant and prepare for the November 5 possible DDOS attacks,” Aguda said in his message relayed by Castro.

“DICT has activated OPLAN Cyber Dome to ensure that all digital services of the government as well as privately operated critical information infrastructure such as banks, telcos, and hospitals are protected and ready to respond to any DDoS attacks," he added.

Aguda assured the public that both the government and private sectors are working closely to maintain the stability and security of the country’s digital systems.

When asked whether the DICT has identified specific groups behind the potential attacks, Castro said no details have been released, noting that such information must be kept confidential to avoid compromising ongoing security efforts.

She also assured the public that even if some online services are affected, citizens may still avail themselves of in-person transactions at government offices.

“Yes, that’s the assurance of the DICT,” Castro said.

The DICT cautioned the public about a potential DDoS attack on November 5, citing past incidents that targeted news websites and even the Senate.

The agency assured that these attacks do not involve data breaches and pose no risk to money, accounts, or personal information.