
NPC and INAI Hold Transition Meeting for GPA fee-funded Secretariat
Mexico City, Mexico - The National Privacy Commission (NPC) of the Philippines convened with the Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Transparencia, Acceso a la Información y Protección de Datos Personales (INAI) (National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information, and Personal Data Protection of México) on 20-21 January 2025, for a transition meeting marking a significant milestone in global data privacy governance.
During the two-day meeting, discussions focused on NPC’s assumption of its role as the first-ever fee-funded Secretariat of the Global Privacy Assembly (GPA).
The GPA is an international forum for data protection and privacy authorities, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders, primarily to exchange best practices and regulatory approaches. INAI served as the Chair and Secretariat of GPA until October 2024. INAI Served as the incumbent GPA chair and secretariat until the transition of these roles to the authorities of Bulgaria as chair, and the Philippines as the secretariat. The transition meeting between NPC and INAI facilitated the exchange of insights and experiences between the two data protection and privacy authorities wherein INAI shared to NPC its knowledge and practices in leading and assisting the GPA.
In his opening remarks, Privacy Commissioner Atty. John Henry D. Naga acknowledged INAI’s invaluable contributions and dedicated service as GPA Secretariat. He emphasized, “We have big shoes to fill, but I am confident that through your cooperation, NPC will be able to continue the efforts to support the Assembly and its Executive Committee. We are determined to successfully and effectively fulfill the duties bestowed to us by the Assembly. To do that, we need the expertise and assistance of INAI, especially in providing vital information that the Secretariat work entails.”
INAI’s Commissioner Josefina Román Vergara highlighted the importance of ensuring a seamless transition and effective preparation for the responsibilities of the GPA Secretariat. She stated, “This meeting is an opportunity to provide insights, share best practices and equip the new secretariat with necessary tools and knowledge to undertake the responsibilities associate with the new role as GPA secretariat. This collaboration will strengthen the share commitment of upholding privacy and data protection standards globally.”
INAI’s Director General for International Affairs Juan Manuel Mota Perales and INAI’s Director of International Data Affairs Mariana Gómez led the transition meeting and successfully facilitated the logistical, operational, and substantive tasks related to assembly governance and information governance, including managing the Secretariat’s email, website, and social media channels.
INAI’s Commissioner President Adrián Alcalá Méndez and other officials from NPC and INAI also participated in the GPA transition meeting.
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