Constitutional and policy basis
- The circular anchors national action on national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest, and the right to self-determination in international relations under Section 7, Article II of the 1987 Constitution.
- The circular directs the Armed Forces of the Philippines to secure sovereignty and the integrity of the national territory under Section 3, Article II of the 1987 Constitution.
- The circular emphasizes the State’s duty to protect the nation’s marine wealth in archipelagic waters, territorial sea, and the exclusive economic zone, and to reserve their use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens under Section 2, Article XII of the 1987 Constitution.
- The circular identifies Philippine interests in the West Philippine Sea as including maintenance and protection of Philippine sovereignty, preservation and defense of territorial integrity, and promotion of the welfare and well-being of the Filipino people.
- The circular recognizes West Philippine Sea issues as extending beyond maritime security to diplomatic, politico-legal, information, military and law enforcement, and socio-economic fields, requiring a more deliberate and coherent approach.
National Task Force creation and composition
- Section 1 formally establishes the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS).
- The Chairperson of the NTF-WPS is the National Security Adviser.
- The NTF-WPS includes representatives from Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of National Defense, and Department of Justice.
- The NTF-WPS includes members from the following agencies:
- Department of the Interior and Local Government
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources
- Department of Energy
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Trade and Industry
- Department of Transportation and Communications
- Department of Finance
- National Economic and Development Authority
- National Coast Watch System
- Armed Forces of the Philippines
- Philippine National Police – Maritime Group
- Philippine Coast Guard
- Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
- Such other government officials and private citizens the Chairperson may designate from time to time.
- The NTF-WPS is composed of permanent representatives from relevant agencies with the rank of Undersecretary as regular members, and includes such other officials of support and concerned agencies as necessary.
- The National Security Council provides administrative and technical support to the NTF-WPS under Section 1.
Direction, functions, and transferred coordination role
- The NTF-WPS receives guidance from the President, through the Cabinet Cluster on Security, Justice and Peace under Section 2.
- The NTF-WPS orchestrates and synchronizes the employment of different national government agencies’ capabilities to achieve national objectives in the West Philippine Sea under Section 2.
- The NTF-WPS submits reports and/or recommendations to the President through the Security Cluster under Section 2.
- The functions of the Inter-Agency Coordinating Committee on the WPS are transferred to, and are now performed by, the NTF-WPS under Section 2.
Area-level and tactical-level task forces
- The NTF-WPS creates an Area-level Task Force (ATF) under Section 3.
- The ATF orchestrates and synchronizes the efforts of different government agencies at the area level.
- The ATF receives guidance and direction from the NTF-WPS under Section 3.
- Government agencies must closely coordinate with the ATF in the employment of their capabilities, assets, equipment, and personnel under Section 3.
- The ATF may organize Tactical-level Task Forces (TTFs) composed of units, assets, capabilities, and elements of different agencies.
- TTFs perform their mandates in accordance with the guidance and direction made by the ATF under Section 3.
- Actions undertaken by the government units must be reported to the ATF directly or through their respective regional offices, depending on the coordination and mechanisms made, under Section 3.
Mandatory support and cooperation
- All branches of government, including departments, bureaus, agencies, offices, and local government units, must render full support, assistance, and cooperation to the NTF-WPS under Section 4.
- Government-owned or -controlled corporations are also directed to render full support, assistance, and cooperation to the NTF-WPS under Section 4.
- The duty of cooperation applies in carrying out the NTF-WPS mandates and functions under Section 4.
Separability, repeal, and validity handling
- If any provision of the circular is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions remain valid and subsisting under Section 5.
- All inconsistent orders, proclamations, rules, regulations, or parts thereof are repealed or modified accordingly under Section 6.