President’s power surge: new office battles cybersecurity threats

TLDR:

• President Marcos has signed an executive order to establish the Office of the Deputy Director General (ODDG) for Cyber and Emerging Threats under the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA).
• The ODDG will be responsible for planning, supervising, and coordinating counter-intelligence and counter-measures against cyber-security threats and weapons of mass destruction.

President Marcos of the Philippines has reorganized the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) to combat evolving threats to national security, including cyber-security threats and weapons of mass destruction. Marcos signed an executive order to establish the Office of the Deputy Director General (ODDG) for Cyber and Emerging Threats under the NICA. The ODDG’s main task is to provide direction to NICA’s overall planning, supervision, and coordination of counter-intelligence and counter-measures against these emerging threats.

The office will be headed by a director general with the rank of assistant secretary, appointed by the President. The reorganization of NICA comes as the Philippines seeks closer security and defense cooperation with its allies, including the US and Japan. The Philippines and the US commenced joint maritime and air patrols in the West Philippine Sea in November last year.

NICA was created in 1987 to serve as the focal point for direction, coordination, and integration of government activities involving national intelligence. The funding requirements for the implementation of the executive order will be charged against the current and available appropriations for NICA.