Philippines, Bermuda sign cross-border data agreement

MANILA, Philippines — The National Privacy Commission (NPC) has signed a cross-border data agreement with the British overseas territory of Islands of Bermuda, expanding the Philippines' network of international data partnerships aimed at strengthening privacy protection.

The NPC said in a statement on Tuesday that the agreement was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed last April 21 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. during the opening day of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) Global Privacy Summit 2025.

Present at the ceremony were NPC Privacy Commissioner John Henry Naga and Deputy Privacy Commissioner Nerissa N. De Jesus, alongside Office of the Privacy Commissioner of the Islands of Bermuda (PrivCom) Privacy Commissioner Alexander White.

They agreed, among others, to exchange information involving potential or ongoing investigations related to suspected violations of data privacy laws, as well as mutual assistance in facilitating such investigations in their respective jurisdictions.

“Cross-border data transfers are fundamental to economic growth and international cooperation. This strategic partnership with PrivCom is a concrete step towards operationalizing mutual accountability and enhancing enforcement cooperation on data protection,” Naga said in a statement,

“With a significant Filipino community contributing to Bermuda’s labor force and economy, it is imperative that we ensure their personal data is protected to the same standards we uphold in the Philippines,” he said further.

The NPC chief said the agreement allows them to respond more effectively to cross-border privacy complaints, coordinate investigations, and help Filipinos in Bermuda.

(2025/04/22-11:09)