Nilagdaan ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ang Executive Order No. 57, na layong palakasin ang maritime security at maritime domain awareness ng mga Pilipino sa gitna ng agresyon ng China sa West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Nakasaad sa EO, na sa gitna ng effort ng Pilipinas na isulong ang stability at kaayusan sa teritoryo nito, patuloy na humaharap sa mga seryosong hamon ang bansa, na nagiging banta hindi lamang sa territorial integrity nito, bagkus maging sa mapayapang pamumuhay ng mga Pilipino.
Pagbibigay diin ng Pangulo, ang pagpapatatag sa maritime security at domain awareness ay mahalaga para sa komprehensibong pagtugon sa mga isyu na nakakaapekto sa national security, sovereignty, at maritime jurisdiction ng Pilipinas.
Sa ilalim, ang National Coast Watch Council (NCWC) ay kikilalanin na bilang National Maritime Council (NMC) na naatasang bumuo ng mga polisiya at istratehiya na sisiguro sa iisa, coordinate, at epektibong governance framework para sa maritime security at domain awareness ng bansa.
“The NCWC Secretariat, which was renamed as the Presidential Office for Maritime Concerns (POMC), is tasked to provide consultative, research, administrative and technical services to the NMC and ensure the efficient and effective implementation of the policies of the council, among other functions.” —PCO.
Inatasan rin ng Pangulo ang NMC, na pinamumunuan ni Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, na mag-formulate at maglabas ng guidelines para sa epektibong implementasyon ng EO 57 sa loob ng 60 araw mula sa pagiging epektibo ng kautusan.
“The Presidential Assistant for Maritime Concerns (PAMC), on the other hand, may report directly to the President on critical and urgent matters and issues affecting the country’s maritime security and domain awareness while the National Maritime Center (formerly the National Coast Watch Center) is tasked to implement and coordinate maritime security operations, among others.” —PCO.
Magsisilbing miyembro ng NMC ang mga kalihim ng:
Department of National Defense (DND);
National Security Adviser (National Security Council);
Department of Agriculture (DA);
Department of Energy (DOE);
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); at
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Magiging attached agency rin ng NMC ang National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS).
Pirmado ng Pangulo ang EO, ika- 25 ng Marso, 2024.
“Will take effect immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette, or a newspaper of general circulation where a complete list of the NMC’s power and functions, and the support agencies are stated along with the functions of the POMC and the National Maritime Center.” —PCO.| ulat ni Racquel Bayan
