Lesson 18 - National Security Concerns

Learning Objectives

At the end of the lesson, students are expected to:

a) recognize the National Security Council and the National Security Policy 2017-2022;
b) enumerate the internal and external threats to national security;
c)appreciate therole of education in promoting peace for national security.

Learning
Content
The Philippines’ national security according to National Security Council (NSC) is “a state
or condition where our most cherished values and beliefs, our democratic way of life, our
institutions of governance and our unity, welfare and well-being as a nation and people are
permanently protected and continuously enhanced” (Banloi, 2010). The National Intellige nc e
Coordinating Agency (NICA) defines national security as “the state or condition wherein the
people’s way of life and being are protected and/or advanced”. It is the primary concern of the
state to ensure the welfare and well-being of every Filipino.

Functions of National Security Council

The NSC’s function is to advise the President with respect to the integration of domestic,
foreign and military policies relating to national security. The NSC also serves as the President’s
principal arm for coordinating these policies among various government departments and agencies
in matters involving national security.

Internal and External Threats

Internal Threats

1. The main internal threat arises from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Abu
Sayaf Group (ASG) which, in open rebellion against the government, has the avowed
objective of establishing an independent Islamic state in the Southern Philippines.
2. The Communist Part of the Philippines/New People Army/ National Democratic
Front (CCP/NPA/NDF) continue to pose a serious threat to national security, although
presently weakened in comparison with their peak strength in the last two decades.
3. Organized crime is a national security concern. The challenge of illegal drugs, in
particular, has grown into major threat to the national community.
4. Grave incidence of poverty is also a serious threat to national security which breeds and
abets rebellion, crime, and dissidence. Poverty incidence affects about one-third of
Filipino families nationwide.
 5. Economic sabotage undermines the market economy, the financial system, and the
nation’s resources.
6. Graft and corruption has become another threat to our national security by virtue of the
huge scale by which it saps public resources, undermines the morale of the civil service
and affects the delivery of quality basic services.
7. Severe calamities cause serious food shortages and hoarding and profiteering resulting in
hunger, disease and deprivation.
8. Persistent environment degradation poses a long-term security threat.

External Threats

1. The multilateral dispute over Spratly Islands and other islands in the West Philippine
Seais a source of intermittent tensions, owing to the building of structures, believed to be
military-oriented by some claimant countries in the area.
2. The smuggling of firearms and contraband, illegal migration, and the occasional
movement of foreign terrorists through the porous borders of our southwestern frontier
have elicited transnational concern.
3. The serious economic disparity between rich and the poor nations keeps the world in a
state of instability and virtually on the brink of war in many places.
4. Ethnics, religious and cultural conflicts pervade many regions and nations, including in
the country.
5. The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) is a threat to global security.
Nuclear materials and technologies are more accessible now than before.
6. Transnational organized crime has proliferated in the era of globalization.
7. Natural disaster and environment issues will continue to pervade the global security
agenda.
8. Cybernetic crime is a growing global threat, as experienced with computer viruses such
as Melissa and Chernobyl, which have attacked isolated or networked information
systems through the internet or through software carriers and devices.

Types of Security Threats (Labuguen, et al., 2010)

The following are types of security threats that could be minimized by having good
citizenship values and commitment to support and act on issues related to national security
concern.

1. Rebellion or insurrection is an open, armed and organized resistance against a constituted

authority.
2. Terrorism is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion.
3. Crime applies to a measurable degree of damage or destruction up to and including a
state beyond use or repair, or it may indicate a state wherein such damage is occurring
and continuing.
4. Murder is defined in most countries as the unlawful killing of another human being with
intent (or malice), and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms
of homicide.
 5. Hijacking/Highway robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of
value by force or threat of force and/or by putting the victim in fear.
6. Kidnapping or serious illegal detention is the taking away or transportation of a person
against the person’s will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement
without legal authority.

Role of schools in promoting peace for national security

1. Peaceful pedagogies or strategies in teaching

2. Disarmament education, discourage parent from buying war toys.
3. Avoid sexist education, language curriculum
4. Encourage students’ cooperative and collaborative activities rather than competitiveness.
5. Encourage students to discuss the roots of conflict so they can prepare alternative ways of
solving them peacefully.
6. Encourage students to undertake activities that promote intercultural dialogue to develop
intercultural understanding and tolerance.

National Security Policy 2017-2022

The NSP 2017-2022 is a declaration of the Government’s commitment to continuo us ly

develop a national security system that is rules-based, able to effectively respond not only to
security threats but also to opportunities beneficial to the national interest. Enhancing the process,
scope and organizational cohesiveness of the national security system is imperative toward the
implementation of the 12 – point national security agenda which includes the following:

 Human and Political Security

 Health Security
 Economic and Financial Security
 Food and Water Security
 Military and Border Security
 Socio-Cultural Security
 Environment and Disaster Security
 Energy Security
 Maritime and Airspace Security
 International Security
 Information and Cyber Security
 Transportation and Port Security

The concept of national security has eventually changed overtime. No longer does it
exclusively refer to the traditional notions of internal and external defense but to the economic
development and social well – beingfor progress and nation building.
BatStateU - National Service Training Program 1 – LTS 4