President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the National Security Council (NSC) and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) to make sure that upholding the Philippines’ interest and ensuring the Filipinos’ security remain the government’s top priorities.

Marcos gave the directive, as he joined the joint anniversary celebration of the NSC and the NICA at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on Thursday.

“We know that you are the silent guardians who protect us against all manner of national threats, the steadfast vanguards who keep our enemies at bay, and the faithful watchers ensuring that we do not veer to disorder and to chaos,” he told the NSC and NICA.

“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 added.

The NSC and the NICA are celebrating their 73rd and 74th founding anniversaries, respectively.

Marcos hailed the two agencies’ “boundless service,” being at the forefront of protecting national security for over seven decades.

Despite this, Marcos acknowledged that the country continues to face pressing issues of national concern, including threats to territorial integrity and sovereignty; terrorism and local communist insurgency; threats in cybersecurity; and dangers of climate change.

Marcos stressed the vital role of the NSC and the NICA in ensuring that the country remains on top of its national security concerns, as well as of other global developments and shifts.

“I know that you are not often credited nor celebrated enough due to the nature of your work and the sensitivity of the jobs that you hold. Such is the nature of the clandestine services. But please know that your brilliant handiwork, courageous grit, and selfless sacrifice are well-recognized by those who know of the hard work that you have put in to keep our country safe,” he said.

Marcos said he would continue to rely on the NSC and NICA, especially when the path to national security intertwines with economic and social transformation.

Established by virtue of Executive Order 330 issued on July 1, 1950, 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, established on July 1, 1949 through Executive Order 235, 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. (PNA)