Ison, Grace Crelete B.

The National Security Policy (NSP) and Philippine Development Plan (PDP)

From my standpoint, the traditional notion of a common Filipino about the

National Security Policy has been only regarding the internal and external defense
efforts of the government for our country. That is, the protection that our policemen
provides inside the communities and the efforts of our army, navy, and air force in
keeping our country secured from the attacks of foreign terrorist or Filipino rebels
whether in land, aerial, or marine territories. Looking at today’s National Security
Policy, this traditional notion has already evolved and expanded. It now includes linking
of the country’s economic development that leads to prosperity and progress into a
secured society in which the Filipinos will experience greater peace and stability. The
concept of NSP today is that the country’s security also depends undeniably on whether
each citizen feels that their welfare, well-being, and ways of life are good and stable
enough because they can rely on a secured government and institutions as well as
enhanced and protected territorial integrity, sovereignty, and core values. Moreover, as
the country’s NSP is also viewed within the context of a global community as well as
relating to the formulation of single ASEAN Economic Community, pursuing policies
anchored on international laws without compromising our culture and values, coupled
with equipping the Filipino people with the necessary tools and skills to adapt to the
challenges of regional integration is indeed a strategic move of our government. Policies
have been traditional for many years and attuning NSP to respond to the realities that
happen in our country will make it possible for a common Filipino to have high hopes
again for a secured and stable nation.

On the other hand, it is indeed that development is a long-term process and it

takes many years or even decades for a country to reach a higher level of it as well as
raise living standards for its citizens and eradicate poverty. But with the 2017-2022
Philippine Development Plan which may give a solid foundation for the country’s long-
term vision of a more inclusive growth for all Filipinos (in 2040), the government may
be able to bring back our confidence in a high-trust and globally competitive economy
and society. Foremost, becoming aware of PDP and knowing that the government is
working to make the Philippines to become an upper middle-income country makes me-
a common Filipino to be optimistic for a bright future here in my own country.