Año Affirms Reorganization of NSC as Crucial for National Security Policy Enhancement

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año has endorsed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s recent Executive Order No. 81 of 2024, which reshapes the National Security Council (NSC). Año emphasized that this restructuring is essential for improving the development of national security policies. He highlighted that the NSC primarily serves as an advisory body to the President, and its structure is subject to presidential discretion. As the NSC Director General, Año referenced the Administrative Code of 1987, which grants the President ongoing authority to reorganize the administrative framework of the Office of the President, including the NSC. He further noted that the Constitution empowers the President with control over all executive entities. Año also reflected on historical reorganizations of the NSC by past Presidents, from Elpidio Quirino in 1950 to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2001, illustrating a tradition of adapting the NSC to meet evolving presidential needs and security challenges. He stressed that the current reorganization aims to ensure that national security policies are based on robust advice and precise information, and are responsive to both current and emerging threats.