Privacy Policy

Version: 0.1 | Effective Date: April 28, 2025

1. Introduction

SafeShoresForSandy ("we", "us", or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy of visitors to the Safe Shores for Sandy website (https://www.safeshoresforsandy.org) (the "Website"). This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our Website, including when you sign our petition. Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By using the Website, you consent to the data practices described in this policy.

This policy is intended to comply with the Republic Act No. 10173, also known as the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (DPA), and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

2. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of information:

  • Personal Information: Information that can be used to identify you personally, which you voluntarily provide to us when you sign the petition or contact us. This includes:
    • First Name
    • Last Name
    • Email Address
  • Usage Data: Information automatically collected when you access and use the Website. This may include your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, links clicked, the dates and times of your visit, and other standard log information.
  • Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track activity on our Website and hold certain information. Cookies are files with a small amount of data which may include an anonymous unique identifier. You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our Website. We use cookies for:
    • Essential Operations: Necessary for the Website and Payload CMS admin interface to function.
    • Preferences: Remembering your settings and preferences (like cookie consent choices).
    • Analytics (if applicable): To understand how visitors interact with the Website (typically using aggregated/anonymized data). We will obtain your consent for non-essential cookies via our cookie banner.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for various purposes, including:

  • To operate and maintain the Website.
  • To manage your petition signature and add your name (as chosen by you: Full Name or First Name + Last Initial) to supporter lists.
  • To share the petition supporter list (containing First Name, Last Name, and Email Address) with Philippine lawmakers, government agencies, and other relevant decision-makers as part of our advocacy for Sandy's Act and improved coastal safety.
  • To send you email updates about the petition, Sandy's Act, and related coastal safety campaigns, only if you have explicitly opted-in to receive such communications.
  • To respond to your comments, questions, and requests.
  • To monitor and analyze usage and trends to improve the Website experience.
  • To protect the security and integrity of the Website.
  • To comply with legal obligations under Philippine law.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data based on the following legal grounds under the DPA:

  • Consent: We rely on your explicit consent (obtained via mandatory checkboxes) to collect and process your personal information for signing the petition, for displaying your name publicly (as per your choice), for sharing the petition data with lawmakers, and for sending you email updates (if you opt-in). We also rely on consent for using non-essential cookies.
  • Legitimate Interests: We may process limited Usage Data for the legitimate interests of operating, maintaining, and improving the Website, provided such processing does not override your fundamental rights and freedoms.
  • Legal Obligation: We may process your information if required to comply with a legal obligation under Philippine law.

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

  • With Lawmakers and Authorities: As stated above, the list of petition signatories (First Name, Last Name, Email) will be shared with relevant Philippine government bodies and officials to support the advocacy goals.
  • Public Display: If you sign the petition, your name (either Full Name or First Name + Last Initial, based on your selection) may be displayed on a public list of supporters on the Website or other campaign materials.
  • Service Providers: We may share information with third-party vendors and service providers who perform services on our behalf, such as website hosting (e.g., AWS), database management (e.g., AWS RDS), email delivery (if applicable for updates), and potentially analytics providers. These providers are obligated to protect your data and use it only for the purposes for which we disclose it to them.
  • Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court or government agency) in the Philippines.
  • Protection of Rights: We may disclose information where we believe it necessary to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding potential violations of our policies, suspected fraud, situations involving potential threats to the safety of any person, violations of our Terms and Conditions, or as evidence in litigation in which we are involved.

6. Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical security measures designed to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, alteration, and disclosure. However, please be aware that no security measures are perfect or impenetrable, and no method of data transmission can be guaranteed against interception or misuse. We cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information.

7. Data Retention

We will retain your personal information only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy.

  • Petition signature data will be retained for the duration of the advocacy campaign and as potentially required for archival or legal purposes related to the campaign's objectives.
  • If you subscribe to updates, your email address will be retained until you unsubscribe.
  • Usage Data is generally retained for a shorter period, except when this data is used to strengthen security or improve website functionality, or we are legally obligated to retain it for longer periods.

8. Your Data Privacy Rights (Philippines)

Under the Data Privacy Act of 2012, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

  • The Right to be Informed: You have the right to know how your personal data is being processed.
  • The Right to Access: You have the right to request access to the personal data we hold about you.
  • The Right to Object: You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances.
  • The Right to Erasure or Blocking: You have the right to request the deletion or blocking of your personal data under certain conditions.
  • The Right to Damages: You may claim compensation if you suffered damages due to inaccurate, incomplete, outdated, false, unlawfully obtained, or unauthorized use of personal data.
  • The Right to File a Complaint: You have the right to file a complaint with the National Privacy Commission (NPC) if you believe your data privacy rights have been violated.
  • The Right to Rectify: You have the right to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
  • The Right to Data Portability: You have the right to receive your data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format under certain conditions.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the contact information provided below. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

9. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

As mentioned, we use cookies. For more details on the cookies we use and your choices regarding cookies, please refer to our Cookie Consent banner and management tool.

10. Children's Privacy

Our Website and petition are intended for individuals who are legally capable of providing consent (generally, 18 years or older in the Philippines, or with parental consent if applicable). We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from children under the age of 18. If we become aware that we have collected Personal Data from a child without verification of parental consent, we will take steps to remove that information from our servers. The advocacy itself concerns child safety, but the act of participation (signing the petition) is intended for adults.

11. International Data Transfers

Your information, including Personal Data, may be transferred to — and maintained on — computers located outside of the Philippines where the data protection laws may differ. If we transfer your data internationally (e.g., through hosting providers), we will take steps to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable laws, potentially through standard contractual clauses or other legally recognized mechanisms.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Effective Date" at the top. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes are effective when they are posted on this page.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your data privacy rights, please contact us at: [info@dx10.com]

You also have the right to contact the National Privacy Commission (NPC) of the Philippines if you have unresolved concerns: Website: