MANILA -- For the first time ever, the government will publish a national security strategy that would serve as a roadmap in building a stronger nation, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon announced Wednesday.
Esperon made the revelation in a briefing by the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) on the recent developments in the WPS at the House of Representatives.
"For the first time, we are publishing our national security strategy," Esperon said, noting that it was already signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte last May 16.
He said the national security strategy will address urgent security concerns and cope with the rapidly changing global security environment in line with the objectives set forth in the National Security Policy of 2017-2022.
"In order to protect our most cherished democratic institutions and way of life, we will create an environment where peace and economic development will complement each other," Esperon quoted Duterte as saying in the national security strategy.
"To defend our sovereignty and integrity of our national territory, we will continue to develop and improve our defense, intelligence, and law enforcement capabilities to enable our troops to end communist insurgency and terrorism and violent extremism," Esperon added.
Based on the document, the country would also bolster its position in the community of nations by "strengthening our diplomatic relations with our traditional allies, engaging non-traditional partners, and pursuing an independent foreign policy that gives primacy to our national interest." (PNA)
