New Chief Named to Lead the Philippines’ Privacy Watchdog

The National Privacy Commission now has a new head following the oath taking of lawyer Johann Carlos Barcena, led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. The ceremony was held at Malacañan Palace and shared publicly through official government channels.

With his appointment, Barcena takes on the role of Privacy Commissioner and Chairperson of the NPC, a position that carries the rank of Secretary. He steps into the post with prior government experience, having served as executive director at the Office of the Commissioner under the Governance Commission for Government Owned and Controlled Corporations.

The NPC welcomed its new chief through a social media post, expressing confidence in his ability to push stronger data protection efforts and help build public trust in the country’s digital systems.

As the Philippines’ main authority on privacy, the NPC plays a key role in regulating how personal information is collected, stored, and used. The agency enforces the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and works to make sure organizations handling personal data are accountable and compliant.

The commission also aligns local privacy policies with international standards, an increasingly important task as digital services, online platforms, and data sharing continue to grow across the country.