The Senate on Tuesday began deliberations on measures aimed at strengthening and modernizing the country’s defense institutions to address evolving security threats.

During the public hearing of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, Senator Loren Legarda said reforms must ensure that the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are equipped to respond to emerging challenges, including cyber intrusions, disinformation operations and gray-zone tactics.

“We need a Department of National Defense that can respond to the future, with the professional civilian capability, legal authority, and funding tools to do its job well. We also need an Armed Forces of the Philippines that is not burdened by outdated planning cycles and bureaucratic constraints, but is able to adapt swiftly to rapidly evolving technologies,” Legarda said.

Among those discussed was the proposed DND Transformation Act, which seeks to transform the DND into an agile, modern, and proactive institution that provides strategic direction and support to its attached agencies, including the AFP.

The measure seeks to clarify the powers of the DND and the Defense Secretary and introduce organizational reforms such as the establishment of sub-national offices, the creation of a Corps of National Defense Specialists, continuing professional development mechanisms, and strengthened protection of sensitive information.

“Our duty today must be approached with precision: strengthen the DND, modernize the AFP, and honor those who served, so we can better secure our nation,” Legarda added.

The committee examined proposals to strengthen the implementation of the Revised AFP Modernization Program to ensure modernization efforts are consistent, capability-driven, and responsive to evolving threats.

Department of National Defense Assistant Secretary Katherine Lingan told senators that institutional expansion is necessary to enable the DND to carry out its mandate.

“The organization of the Department is being envision to be expanded and enhanced to ensure its ability to answer threats -current and forthcoming- makes the organization able to do that,” Lingan said.

She said the department manages about a hundred billion worth of assets while catering to more than 1 million clientele nationwide. (PNA)