The FSO cadets made a courtesy call to Usec. Rufino S. Lopez, Jr. and DDG Vicente M. Agdamag at the National Security Council compound in the morning of 14 July 2017. The National Security Plan for Filipinos was presented featuring key aspects like economic security’s role in national security, ASEAN integration, private-public partnership (PPP), and looking at the context of the global community.

Furthermore, LTC. Ma. Lourdes Santelices, MNSA explained that the context of national security is evolving from the traditional aspect of territory, expanding through environmental concerns, climate change, and transnational crimes. She emphasized that the military should work with the citizenry and that national security is a collective effort that encompasses governmental agencies from the Office of the President, the legislature, NSC, and NEDA. Lastly, Director Cyril P. Cusi presented how the NSP 2017-22 ties up with the Philippine Development Plan. He asserted that there must be national unity and that the vision is for the country to become confident among nations. Several unique features of the NSP include a moral-spiritual component, the peace process, and the cohesiveness of the family.

In the afternoon, the cadets went to Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City, and made a courtesy call to the Secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND), Hon. Delfin N. Lorenzana. He was joined by Director Peter Paul Reuben G. Galvez of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Plans and Programs, and Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr., Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil Military Operations, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The Secretary related to the cadets his fourteen-year experience in Washington, DC, USA as defense attaché and placed emphasis on the importance of coordination of the Military, the DFA and other government agencies under the “One Country Team Approach” in posts abroad. He also encouraged the cadets to keep educating themselves in all aspects of life.

The DND also presented to the cadets the Campaign Plan of the AFP, as well as the Defense thrusts of the same. An open forum followed in which the cadets raised queries on the gender index status of the DND and the role of education in national security, among others. The DND officials elaborated on their answers and cited specific examples. The courtesy call, which lasted for four hours, was concluded with a photo opportunity.