ARTA reports hacking, defacement linked to flood control anomalies

THE Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) said on Wednesday that it is investigating a defacement incident on its Policy Reform, Innovation, and Streamlining Management (PRISM) Portal linked to flood control anomalies.

“Unlawful acts such as hacking and system defacement are unacceptable avenues for resolution,” the agency said in a statement.

According to ARTA, the perpetrators, AnonymousPH, cited flood control projects that have “adversely affected” Filipino citizens.

While the agency supports the public’s demand for transparency and accountability, the public is reminded that there are other lawful and accessible channels for citizens to report matters related to flood control projects within their communities, like the Sumbong sa Pangulo platform.

PRISM, which remains inaccessible after the incident, is ARTA’s online learning management system designed to provide educational resources on regulatory impact assessment and evidence-based policymaking.

Although no confidential or sensitive information was compromised within the PRISM Portal or ARTA systems, the agency is encouraging users to verify their e-mail accounts, change passwords, and avoid clicking unknown links.

ARTA also commits to further enhancing the platform’s system security measures with the help of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). — Almira Louise S. Martinez