The Master in National Security Administration for Senior Executives (MNSA-SE) was officially opened by the President of the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP), LtGen Ferdinand M. Cartujano PAF (Ret), in a ceremony graced by the Senior Undersecretary and Officer-in-Charge of the Department of National Defence (DND), Carlito G Galvez Jr, in the NDCP Auditorium on 03 February 2023.
The MNSA-SE, which will run from February 2023 to June 2024, is specially designed for high level officers and officials with salary grades of 28 and above in the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. The MNSA-SE Class is composed of thirty-one (31) distinguished fellows who are now occupying high positions of responsibility in policy execution, foreign affairs, law making, adjudication, education, and private industry. The Class Members include twenty-two (22) from the executive [19 from the national government, 2 from the local government, and a president of a state university], seven (7) from the legislature [one congressperson, four from the Senate, and two from the Bangsamaro Transition Authority]; one (1) judge from a regional trial court; and, one (1) chief executive officer from a strategic company.
The MNSA-SE Opening Ceremony was attended by the NDCP Core Faculty, MNSA-SE Course Directors, NDCP executive and management committees, and class officers of the first MNSA Executive Course 01.
In his speech, OIC Sr USec Galvez emphasized the value of continuing education for the senior executives of the elite MNSA program who will take the helm of policymaking and national security administration in the country. Significantly, he closed his address to the Class, and the NDCP, by quoting Apolinario Mabini’s timeless words of wisdom for the Filipino people: a true patriot is one who, whatever (his/her) post may be, high or low, tries to do the greatest possible good for the country.