Marcos reorganizes NICA to address cybersecurity, other emerging threats

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 23) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the restructuring of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) to adapt to evolving threats to national security, including technologically advanced risks.

Executive Order No. 54 released by Malacañang on Tuesday said the Office of the Deputy Director General (ODDG) for Cyber and Emerging Threats will be created to provide direction to the planning, supervision, and coordination of NICA on counterintelligence and counter-measures against cybersecurity threats, weapons of mass destruction, and other emerging threats.

It noted that current traditional security approaches may not be suited to address these dangers.

"There is a need to reorganize the NICA to adapt to the evolving threats to national security and ensure a more vigorous intelligence collection, intensify internal and external coordination with foreign and domestic counterparts, and prepare intelligence and security assessments and estimates using data analytics," the document signed by the president through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin read.

The office shall have a deputy director general and directors for Counterintelligence and Security and Cyberintelligence and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction.

All officials will be appointed by the president.