“Although NICA has undergone changes since, its contributions in maintaining peace and stability cannot be understated”
FOR ordinary folks the words intelligence, information gathering or surveillance, are usually associated with nameless people working on the sidelines to carry out tasks related to security matters.
Worldwide, countries have agencies to ensure their security and stability.
The changing geopolitical landscape and terrorism threats coupled with rapid advancement of information and communications technology make it imperative for national security agencies to level up to address these challenges.
Although the history of intelligence work here began even before the arrival of colonizers, it was only 75 years ago when a single entity was thus established.
On July 10, 1949 President Elpidio Quirino issued Executive Order 235 creating the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, mandated with coordinating all government activities with respect to national intelligence and preparation of intelligence estimates and summaries of both local and foreign situations to be made available to the President and policy-making body.
Although NICA has undergone changes since, its contributions in maintaining peace and stability cannot be understated.
It has remained steadfast in its mission to lead in directing, coordinating and integrating all government activities involving national intelligence.
NICA has contributed to the economic development of the country, and has been instrumental in the peace and order the country is enjoying while watching over the national security situation within the country’s borders and beyond.
To chronicle its journey and celebrate its diamond anniversary, NICA Director General Ricardo F. De Leon, deemed it fitting to publish a coffee table book.
Through its Special Working Group on NICA Publication, the legacy book Honoring the Past, Illuminating the Future emerged.
This is my second collaborative book project with DG De Leon, having done in 2019 the 25 Years of Philippine Public Safety College where he was then its president prior to being named NICA director general.
The nine-chapter, 291-page book is published and printed by Media Touchstone Ventures, Inc. It is a privilege to be able to contribute in making this legacy book as its Project Consultant and Publisher.
The book tackles NICA’s utilization of the potentials of information technology, is modernizing not just its facilities and equipment as it continuously provides personnel training in digitization.
Creating linkages with other local institutions and foreign entities is important for the agency to carry out its tasks and boost its resiliency.
A unique feature of the coffee table book are contributions written by some of the NICA staff recounting their experiences in the agency.
A chapter is dedicated to the previous NICA Directors General – from Agustin G. Gabriel known as the “Father of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency” to Alex Paul I. Monteagudo and the reforms they introduced.
A separate chapter is dedicated to current NICA DG De Leon. NICA under his leadership is known as NICA +3Cs Era, referring to Cybersecurity, CBRN – Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear, and Counterterrorism, issues affecting national security.
Also discussed is SOAR HIGH, the agency’s guide in formulating plans, programs and activities as it carries on its tasks as the premier national intelligence organization.
SOAR HIGH, an initiative of DG De Leon, stands for the national intelligence strategic objectives:
S for Strengthen and protect territorial integrity; O for Operationalize an agile organization and further capacitate human resources; A for Accelerate efforts to address all national security threats; R for Revitalize ICT systems and strengthen cybersecurity infrastructure;
H for Hasten global engagements and pursue stronger international collaborations; I for Institutionalize the Agency’s lead role in intelligence investigations and operations; G for Generate maximum efficiency in the distribution and judicious utilization of financial resources; and H for Heighten monitoring of economic, environment, and energy opportunities and risks.
NICA supports the Bagong Pilipinas campaign of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. with its 10-point commitment “A CAPABLE US.”
(MTV, book author and publisher, is president and chief executive officer of Media Touchstone Ventures, Inc. and president/executive director of the Million Trees Foundation Inc., an NGO advocating tree-planting and environmental protection.)
