President Marcos directed the reorganization of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) with the goal of strengthening its intelligence gathering services and ensuring national security amid evolving threats.
Marcos gave the instruction by virtue of Executive Order (EO) No. 54 he signed with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin last Friday, Jan. 19. It covers the establishment of the new Office of the Deputy Director General (ODGG) for Cyber and Emerging Threats under NICA.
The ODGG for Cyber and Emerging Threats is tasked to provide direction to the overall planning, supervision and coordination of NICA on counterintelligence and counter-measures against cybersecurity threats, weapons of mass destruction, and other emerging threats.
According to the EO, the President will appoint a deputy director general to head the new office with the rank of Assistant Secretary. The post comes with two units composed of the Directorate for Counterintelligence and Security (DCS) and Directorate for Cyber Intelligence and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (DCCWMD).
Further, the EO stated that NICA is now authorized to request the detail of personnel from other government departments, agencies, bureaus, offices, and institutions, subject to the approval of the head of office and availability of personnel, to ensure the effective coordination, integration and fusion of information relative to national intelligence concerns.
NICA may also be requested by Constitutional bodies, the judiciary, and both Houses of Congress to integrate information and/or intelligence, and coordinate with appropriate government agencies the conduct of national activities involving intelligence and/or investigation on matters of national security.
The funding requirements for the implementation of the EO shall be charged against current and available appropriations of the agency.
NICA was created in 1987 through EO No. 246 during the administration of former President Corazon Aquino. It serves as the focal point for direction, coordination, and integration of government activities involving national intelligence, and the preparation of intelligence estimates of local and foreign situations for the formulation of national policies by the President.