In response to China's aggressive tactics and threats in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order (EO) No. 57, establishing the National Maritime Council (NMC), to bolster maritime security in the Philippines and raise Filipinos' understanding of the maritime domain.
EO 57 stressed the urgent need to strengthen maritime security and raise awareness of the maritime domain in the face of "a range of serious challenges" that endanger not only the peaceful coexistence of Filipinos but also the territorial integrity of the nation.
“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,” Marcos said.
Re-organizing the NCWC
In the order, Marcos renamed the National Coast Watch Council (NCWC) and reformed it as the NMC.
Among its many responsibilities is the council's formulation of plans and policies to provide a cohesive, well-coordinated, and efficient framework for the nation's maritime security and domain awareness.
The National Security Adviser (National Security Council) and the Secretaries of the Departments of National Defense (DND), Agriculture (DA), Energy (DOE), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Foreign Affairs (DFA) comprise the NMC.
Under the direction of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, the NMC has been entrusted with creating and disseminating guidelines for the efficient execution of EO 57 no later than sixty days after it becomes effective.
Task Force for West PH ssa
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) will be affiliated with the NMC and receive policy directives from the President via the council as per the EO.
The NTF-WPS was established to coordinate and operationalize the capacities of several agencies for coordinated activities in the WPS.
Following the Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia's recent water cannon attack on a Philippine supply vessel in Ayungin Shoal, which severely damaged the ship and injured three Filipino crew members, Marcos issued the EO.
The EO 57, which was signed by Bersamin on behalf of the President, will go into effect right away after it is published in the Official Gazette or another widely read newspaper
