Marcos: Upholding national interest, Filipino security are govt’s priorities

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has stressed that upholding the national interest and ensuring the Filipinos' security will remain as the government's top priorities.

Marcos made the remark during the joint anniversary celebration of the NSC and the NICA at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on Thursday afternoon.

Marcos emphasized the global developments and shifts “where the assistance and efforts of NICA and NSC are critical to ensure that the country remains on top of its national security concerns.”

“With this, let us continue to prepare for the tasks that lie ahead and continue to uphold our national interest and ensuring the security of the Filipino public and that should remain at the top of all of our priorities,” Marcos said.

According to Marcos, the Philippines continues to face pressing issues of national concern, such as threats to territorial integrity and sovereignty; terrorism and local communist insurgency; threats in cybersecurity; and, dangers of climate change.

The President said he would continue to rely on the NSC and NICA as the country embarks on the new era of economic and social transformation.

“Ang sambayanang Pilipino ay patuloy na umaasa sa inyo sa pagtaguyod ng isang bansa kung saan ang lahat ay nagkakaisa, nagtutulungan, at nagkakapit-bisig para sa pagpapabuti ng kalagayan ng bawat buhay ng Pilipino,” Marcos said. 

(The Filipinos continue to rely on you in terms of establishing our country, wherein all our in unity and everyone is helping each other for the betterment of each other's life.)

The Presidential Communications Office said the NSC is the principal advisory body on the proper coordination and integration of plans and policies affecting national security, consisting of two distinct bodies such as the Council Proper and the NSC Secretariat.

The NICA, on the other hand, 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 matter. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News