CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY

NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM

Civic Welfare Training Service

Module 6
NATIONAL SECURITY:
RECOGNIZING NATIONAL ISSUES AND CONCERNS

Introduction:

Security is a national concern that every Filipino must consider ensuring peaceful existence of the
State. It shall the state’s primordial concern as well as to secure its constituents. National security is
the absence of threat to territorial integrity, entails the maintenance of a harmonious relationship
between its political systems and values the external environment. It is a condition or state of being
where the Filipino people’s values, way of life, institutions, welfare all well-being, sovereignty and
strategic locations are protected and enhanced.

Objectives:

At the end of the session, the students are expected to:

 Understand the basics concepts on Human Security and National Security

 Determine the role of NSTP program and its students in times of national
emergencies
 Determine different kinds of threats to national territory
 Identify the security of human lives as the central objective of national and
international security policy

Motivation:

National Security: Recognizing National Issues & Concerns

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 CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY
NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM
Civic Welfare Training Service

Figure 1. All images are screen captured from rappler news.

One threat to National and Human Security is Terrorism. Islamist Terrorist and Community Rebels
are two of the world’s running insurgencies. Philippines has been a host of these two. In a way to
combat terrorism in the Philippines lawmakers drafted a bill called the Anti-Terrorism Act which the
President deemed to be urgent during this pandemic. This bill was passed by the congress and lately
signed by the President of the Republic despite the clamor of the people especially the activist and the
youth sector. The most controversial provision of this act is on Section 29 which speaks on the
detention without judicial warrant of arrest and the detention of a “suspected” terrorist (determined by
the Anti-Terrorism Council, all of them are Presidential Appointees) for 14 days and can be extended
for 10 days. Do you believe that this Act helps in safeguarding the human and national security?
Ponder on this question.

Discussion:

HUMAN SECURITY

Since time immemorial, man has an awareness and knowledge about security. In ancient era, man has
devised means to protect himself from ferocious animals and harsh conditions. As the society
advanced, they learned to create tools and weapons to safeguard their lives and their properties. In our
country, heroes were born because they strive to save our people from conquerors. Currently, every
country has its own way of defending and maintaining its human and national security.

In the 1994 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Report, human security was referred
to as having two aspects:

“…first safety from such chronic threats as hunger, disease and repression…second, it means
protection from sudden and hurtful disruptions in the patterns of daily life – whether in
homes, in jobs, or in communities. Such threats can exist at all levels of national income and
development.”

This was supplemented by an explanation from the former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan which
states that:

“Human security, in its broadest sense, embraces far more than the absence of violent
conflict. It encompasses human rights, good governance, access to education and health care
and ensuring that each individual has opportunities and choices to fulfill his or her
potential… Every step in this direction is also a step towards reducing poverty, achieving
economic growth and preventing conflict. Freedom from want, freedom from fear, and the
freedom of future generations to inherit a healthy natural environment – these are the
interrelated building blocks of human – and therefore national – security.”

Thus, according to the United Nations (UN) Commission, Human Security:

 seeks to “protect the vital core of all human lives in ways that enhance human freedoms and
human fulfillment”
 requires “protecting people from critical and pervasive threats” and "empowering them to
take charge of their own lives"
 “protection and empowerment are mutually reinforcing and cannot succeed in isolation”
 Commission puts emphasis on the “need for comprehensive, integrated and people-centered
solutions that together can help people develop the building blocks of survival, livelihood and
dignity”

National Security: Recognizing National Issues & Concerns

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 CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY
NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM
Civic Welfare Training Service

NATIONAL SECURITY

National Security is defined as the state or condition wherein the values which a nation treasures
such as territorial integrity, sovereignty, people’s way of life and well-being are protected and
enhanced. It is the requirement to maintain the survival of the nation-state through the use of
economic military and political power and the exercise of diplomacy. The measures taken to ensure
national security include:

 Using diplomacy to rally allies and isolate threats;

 Maintaining effective armed forces;
 Implementing civil defense and emergency preparedness measures (including anti-terrorism
legislation);
 Ensuring the resilience and security of critical infrastructure; and
 Using intelligence services to detect and defeat or avoid threats and espionage, and to protect
classified information.

In the Philippine context as indicated by the NSC Permanent Secretariat, National Security is
described as a condition or state of being where the Filipino people’s values, way of life, institutions,
welfare, and well-being, sovereignty and strategic relations are protected and enhanced.

The elements of National Security are the following:

 Moral-spiritual consensus
 Cultural cohesiveness
 Economic solidarity
 Socio-political stability
 Ecological balance
 Territorial integrity
 International harmony

NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE NSTP PROGRAM

The 1987 Philippine Constitution enshrined in its Declaration of Principles that the Filipinos are duty-
bound to protect the country and, as such, they may be subjected to undergo service training programs
(Art. II, Sec. 14, The Philippine Constitution). The Government may call upon the people to defend
the state, and in fulfillment thereof, all citizens may be required, under conditions provided by law, to
render personal, military or civil service. The NSTP is a program aimed at enhancing civic
consciousness and defense preparedness in the youth by developing the ethics of service and
patriotism while undergoing training in any of its three (3) program components, specifically designed
to enhance the youth's active contribution to the general welfare.

Manpower Reservoir for National Security

1. Graduates of CWTS and LTS shall belong to the National Service Reserve Corps (NSRC)
which could be tapped by the State for literacy and civic welfare activities such assisting in
disaster preparedness, mitigation, response and rehabilitation programs.

2. Graduates of the ROTC component shall form part of the AFP Citizen Armed Forces and
AFP Reserve forces, subject to DND Requirements

THREATS TO NATIONAL SECURITY

A. Man-Made Threats
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 CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY
NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM
Civic Welfare Training Service

a) Terrorism
-Any person who commits an act punishable under any of the following provisions of the
Revised Penal Code:
 Article 122 (Piracy in General and Mutiny in the High Seas or in the Philippine
Waters);
 b. Article 134 (Rebellion or Insurrection);
 c. Article 134-a (Coup d’Etat), including acts committed by private persons;
 d. Article 248 (Murder);
 e. Article 267 (Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention);
 f. Article 324 (Crimes Involving Destruction), or under
 (1) Presidential Decree No. 1613 (The Law on Arson);
 (2) Republic Act No. 6969 (Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste
Control Act of 1990);
 (3) Republic Act No. 5207, (Atomic Energy Regulatory and Liability Act of 1968);
 (4) Republic Act No. 6235 (Anti-Hijacking Law);
 (5) Presidential Decree No. 532 (Anti-Piracy and Anti-Highway Robbery Law of
1974); and,
 (6) Presidential Decree No. 1866, as amended (Decree Codifying the Laws on
Illegal and Unlawful Possession, Manufacture, Dealing in, Acquisition or
Disposition of Firearms, Ammunitions or Explosives
a. Explosion/Bomb Threats
b. Campus Violence/Frat and Gang War
c. Kidnapping/Hostage Taking
d. Drug Addiction
e. Armed Robberies/Hold Ups
f. Snatching
g. Sabotage
h. Fire
i. Technological Threats such as gambling through number games, internet hold ups and
cybercrimes (computer hacking, computer pilferage, ATM stealing and cyber prostitution)

B. Natural Threats
a. Earthquakes
b. Typhoons
c. Floods
d. Volcanic Eruptions
e. Tsunamis

ROLE OF YOUTH IN NATIONAL SECURITY

In an Article entitled “10 Ways Youth can Make an Impact”, it provided the youth means to
contribute to the country’s national security. It emphasized that the youth engagement can bring about
social change. It sends a message that the youth do not have to wait to become adults to be significant
and active members of the society.

1. Know your rights.

2. Learn about local issues
3. Speak out
4. Network
5. Spread the word
6. Join campaigns
7. Host a youth summit
8. Use your creativity
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 CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY
NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM
Civic Welfare Training Service

9. Join/create a youth organization

10. Be an inspiration.

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