Philippine National Security Council

Definition
The principal forum of the president of the Philippines regarding national security
and foreign policy matters together with the senior national security advisors and
cabinet officials. Consists of two distinct bodies – the Council Proper and the
National Security Council Secretariat. PNSC was formed 72 years ago on July 1, 1950
in Malacañang Palace. The preceding agency is the Council of National Defense and the
agency executives are President Bongbong Marcos, Chairman Secretary Eduardo Año,
National Security Adviser and Director General. PNSC’s motto is ‘Kaunlaran,
Katatagan, Kapayapaan’(Development, Stability, Peace).

History
Commonwealth Act No. 1 is the original policy basis of the national security program
of the Republic of the Philippines. That act mandated the establishment of a Council
of National Defense to advice with the President on all matters of national defense
policy. Subsequent to World War II, which included a period during which the
Commonwealth government operated as a government in exile, sovereign nation,
President Elpidio Quirino established the National Security Council as a body so
named. Former President Corazon Aquino reestablished the council in 1986 through an
executive order that provided for a National Security Council director to advise the
president on national security matters and for a National Security Council
Secretariat. It was evident in 2016, when the President Rodrigo Duterte convened the
National Security Council and discussed his major initiatives —the war on illegal
drugs, peace talks with communist and Moro rebels and the territorial disputes with
China.

Function
The NSC's function is to advise the President with respect to the integration of
domestic, foreign, and military policies relating to national security. It is also
said that it serves as the President's principal arm for coordinating these policies
among various government departments and agencies in matters involving national
security. evaluate and analyze all information, events and incidents in terms of the
risks or threats they pose to the overall security and stability of the nation;
formulate and coordinate the implementation of policies on matters of common interest
to the various departments and agencies of the government concerned with national
security; ensure that policies adopted by the NSC on national security are
effectively and efficiently implemented and make such recommendation and render such
other reports as the President may direct from time to time.