President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to reorganize the National Security Council (NSC) is deemed necessary to enhance government policies in the interest of state defense and public safety, according to National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año.
“The President’s issuance of Executive Order (EO) No. 81, s. 2024 reconstituting the composition of the National Security Council (NSC) is necessary to further enhance the formulation of policies affecting national security,” Año said in a statement on Friday.
:The NSC is, first and foremost, an advisory body to the President, and its composition is always subject to the authority of the President,” he added.
Citing the Administrative Code of 1987 and Section 17, Article VII of the Constitution, Año affirmed the President’s authority to realign the administrative structure of the Office of the President, including the NSC.
This latest adjustment continues a historical pattern of NSC reorganizations tailored to meet evolving security challenges.
“Moreover, Section 17, Article VII of the Constitution vests in the President the power of control over all executive departments, bureaus and offices,” Año said.
Previous presidents have reorganized the composition of the NSC to meet the incumbent leadership’s requirements and changing conditions. The NSC was established in 1950 by then President Elpidio Quirino. It has since undergone several reorganizations.
The NSC underwent changes during the administrations of Presidents Ferdinand Marcos Sr. (1972), Corazon Aquino (1986 and 1987), Fidel V. Ramos (1992), and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2001) through their respective EOs.
“The purpose of reorganization is to enhance the formulation of policies relating to national security so that actions and decisions by the President rest on sound advice and accurate information,” Año explained.
He emphasized that the restructuring aligns with the need for timely and coherent responses to current and emerging threats.
