MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. issued an executive order for the strengthening of the country’s maritime security and maritime domain awareness in light of China’s continued aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced on Sunday that Marcos signed Executive Order No. 57 saying that there is a need to strengthen maritime security and raise awareness amid “serious challenges” threatening the Philippines’ territorial integrity and the “peaceful existence of Filipinos.”
“Despite efforts to promote stability and security in our maritime domain, the Philippines continues to confront a range of serious challenges that threaten not only the country’s territorial integrity, but also the peaceful existence of Filipinos, including their fundamental right to live in peace and freedom, free from fear of violence and threat,” the Chief Executive said.
“Strengthening the country’s maritime security and domain awareness is imperative to comprehensively tackle the crosscutting issues that impact the nation’s national security, sovereignty, sovereign rights, and maritime jurisdiction over its extensive maritime zones,” he added.
Under the order, the National Coast Watch Council has been renamed and reorganized into the National Maritime Council (NMC), which is to be chaired by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.
The NMC will be responsible for formulating policies and strategies to ensure a unified, coordinate and effective governance framework for the country’s maritime security and domain awareness, among other powers and functions.
President Marcos also tasked NMC to formulate and issue guidelines for the effective implementation of EO 57 within 60 days from its effectivity.
Among the members of the NMC are the secretaries of Department of National Defense, National Security Council, Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Finance, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and Department of Transportation.
Also named by the Chief Executive to the NMC are the Solicitor General and the director general of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.
There has been an increase in aggression in the contested waters, including an incident where the Chinese Coast Guard launched a water cannon attack against the Filipino vessels./PN
