The National Security Council and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) receive orders from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that the government should prioritize the Philippines’ interests as well as the Filipinos’ security.
Marcos gave the directive on Thursday, July 20, during the joint anniversary celebration of the NSC and NICA, which was held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
The NSC and NICA are both marking their 73rd and 74th founding anniversaries.
Marcos praised the two agencies for their "unending service" in preserving national security for over seven decades.
Despite this, Marcos stated that the country continues to face urgent national concerns, such as threats to territorial integrity and sovereignty, terrorism and local communist insurgencies, cybersecurity threats, and climate change dangers.
Marcos emphasized the importance of the NSC and the NICA in keeping the country informed about its national security concerns as well as other global developments and shifts.
Marcos stated that he would continue to rely on the NSC and NICA, particularly when it comes to national security and economic and social development.
The National Security Council (NSC), established by Executive Order 330 on July 1, 1950, is the primary advisory body on the effective coordination and integration of plans and programs impacting national security, consisting of two distinct bodies, such as the Council Effective and the NSC Secretariat.
The National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), established by Executive Order 235 on July 1, 1949, is the central coordinating agency in charge of integrating government activities related to national intelligence and preparing intelligence estimates on local and foreign situations for the formulation of national policies on the subject.