President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has urged the National Security Council (NSC) and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) to continue upholding the country's interest and the security of the Filipino people as he hailed them for their "boundless service" to the country.
*President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (Malacañang photo)*

Marcos said this during the joint anniversary celebration of the NSC and the NICA at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on Thursday, July 20. In his speech during the private event, the President noted 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. "Let us continue to prepare for the tasks that lie ahead and continue to uphold our national interest and ensure the security of the Filipino public, and that should remain at the top of all of our priorities," he said. Marcos likewise emphasized that he will continue to rely on the NSC and NICA as the Philippines embarks on a journey where national security intertwines with economic and social transformation. He also said 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. Meanwhile, President Marcos lauded the two agencies for remaining at the forefront of ensuring national security for more than seven decades despite not being credited or celebrated enough. "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. "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 added. The NSC and the NICA celebrate their 73rd and 74th Founding Anniversaries, respectively. The NSC, established on July 1, 1950, 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, 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.