New national security policy focuses more on international, external matters –NSC

The National Security Council (NSC) on Tuesday said the National Security Policy 2023 focuses more on international and external issues compared to previous policies.

“Ngayon, if you read the new national security policy ang ating mga problema ay international, external,” NSC spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said in a radio interview.

(Now, if you read the national security policy, our problems are international and external matters.)

Malaya added that the new policy paid particular attention to such issues as the tension in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and Taiwan Strait, nuclear proliferation in Korea, and the situation in Ukraine.

He explained further that the versions of the national security policy under former Presidents Rodrigo Duterte and Benigno Aquino III included internal security issues such as local terrorist groups and illegal drugs.

Malaya said these situations had improved.

Meanwhile, government agencies were expected to create action plans in line with the new security policy.

“For example, ang Department of National Defense, paano natin masisiguro yung ating territorial integrity and sovereignty as well as our rights over the exclusive economic zone in the WPS?” he said.

(For example, the Department of National Defense, how can we ensure our territorial integrity, sovereignty, and rights over the exclusive economic zone in the WPS?)

Malaya said the government will only release some portions of the newly approved policy to the public due to security reasons.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. recently issued Executive Order No. 37 approving the National Security Policy 2023-2028, which calls for an independent foreign policy.

The order directs all national government agencies and instrumentalities, including government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCC) and local government units, to adopt the NSP 2023-2028 in formulating and implementing security-related strategies and programs. — DVM, GMA Integrated News